Shloka 4
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda
Arrow-storm Engagement
काज्चना: काञज्चनापीडा: काञ्चनस्रगलंकृता: । काज्चनानीव शुड्राणि काञ्चनस्य महागिरे:,वे ध्वज सोनेके बने थे। उनके ऊपरी भागको सुवर्णसे ही सजाया गया था। सोनेकी ही मालाओंसे वे अलंकृत थे। अतः सुवर्णमय महापर्वत सुमेरुके स्वर्णमय शिखरोंके समान सुशोभित होते थे
sañjaya uvāca | kāñcanāḥ kāñcanapīḍāḥ kāñcanasragalaṅkṛtāḥ | kāñcanānīva śṛṅgāṇi kāñcanasya mahāgireḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Panji-panji itu diperbuat daripada emas, bermahkota kemuncak emas, dan dihiasi kalungan emas. Ia bersinar laksana puncak-puncak emas sebuah gunung yang agung—seperti kemuncak berkilau Gunung Sumeru yang keemasan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward grandeur—golden standards and ornaments—can magnify the spectacle of war; it implicitly contrasts martial splendor with the grave human cost that such display often masks.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield array, focusing on the brilliant golden standards/crests and garlands that make the scene gleam like the golden peaks of a great mountain (evoking Sumeru).