Mahabharata 7.49.26 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 49, Shloka 26
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 49: Yudhiṣṭhira’s Lament and Strategic Foreboding after Abhimanyu’s Fall
तच्चक्रं भृशमुद्विग्ना: संचिच्छिदुरनेकधा । हवा उसके केशान्तभागको हिला रही थी। उसने अपने हाथमें चक्रनामक उत्तम आयुध उठा रखा था। उस समय उसके शरीर और उस चक्रको--जिसकी ओर दृष्टिपात करना देवताओंके लिये भी अत्यन्त कठिन था--देखकर समस्त भूपालगण अत्यन्त उद्विग्न हो उठे और उन सबने मिलकर उस चक्रके टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर दिये
tac cakraṁ bhṛśam udvignāḥ saṁcicchidur anekadhā | tathāśvanaranāgānām alaṅkāraiś ca suprabhaiḥ | khaḍgaiḥ suniśitaiḥ pītaiḥ nirmuktir bhujagair iva ||
ಆ ಚಕ್ರವನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ರಾಜರು ಬಹಳ ಆತಂಕಗೊಂಡು, ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಸೇರಿ ಅದನ್ನು ಅನೇಕ ತುಂಡುಗಳಾಗಿ ಚೂರುಚೂರಾಗಿಸಿದರು. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ರಣಭೂಮಿ ಕುದುರೆ, ಮನುಷ್ಯ, ಆನೆಗಳ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನ ಆಭರಣಗಳಿಂದಲೂ, ಚರ್ಮ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೊರಬಂದ ಹಾವುಗಳಂತೆ ಮಿನುಗುವ ತೀಕ್ಷ್ಣ ಖಡ್ಗಗಳಿಂದಲೂ ವಿಚಿತ್ರವಾಗಿ ಹೊಳೆಯುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral psychology of war: awe and terror can override royal pride, pushing rulers into desperate, collective violence. It also suggests the transience of power—splendid weapons and ornaments quickly become scattered remnants on the battlefield.
Sañjaya describes a moment when a formidable discus (cakra) terrifies the assembled kings, who then unite to break it apart. He then paints the battlefield’s eerie brilliance, littered with ornaments and sharp swords compared to snakes shedding their skins.
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