Mahabharata 7.138.28 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 138, Shloka 28

अन्धकार-रजःसंमूढे रणाङ्गणे प्रदीपप्रकाशः | Illumination of the Army in Darkness and Dust

Devanagari script

रक्तचन्दनदिग्धाड़ौ शरै: कृतमहाव्रणौ । शोणिताक्तौ व्यराजेतां चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितो

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

raktacandanadigdhāṅgau śaraiḥ kṛtamahāvraṇau |

śoṇitāktau vyarājetāṃ candrasūryāv ivoditau ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Disapu pes cendana merah, tubuh mereka terkoyak oleh anak panah hingga menjadi luka-luka besar, dan bermandi darah; namun dua pahlawan itu tetap bersinar—laksana bulan dan matahari yang terbit bersama.

Word by Word

• रक्तचन्दनदिग्धौ: smeared with red sandal (paste)
• रक्तचन्दनदिग्धौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्तचन्दन-दिग्ध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• शरैः: by arrows
• शरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कृत: made/caused (having been made)
• कृत: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• महाव्रणौ: with great wounds
• महाव्रणौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाव्रण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• शोणिताक्तौ: smeared with blood
• शोणिताक्तौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोणित-आक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• विराजेताम्: they two shone
• विराजेताम्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज्
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Dual, Atmanepada

• चन्द्रसूर्यौ: the moon and the sun
• चन्द्रसूर्यौ: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र-सूर्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• इव: like/as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• उदितौ: risen/appeared (at rising)
• उदितौ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• रक्तचन्दन (red sandalwood paste)
• शर (arrows)
• चन्द्र (moon)
• सूर्य (sun)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the Mahābhārata’s recurring contrast: the outward radiance of warrior valor can coexist with—and even mask—the inner horror of violence. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma (the warrior code) and the ethical cost of glory gained through bloodshed.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes two combatants in the midst of battle: their bodies are anointed with red sandal paste, yet they are heavily wounded by arrows and covered in blood. Despite this, they appear striking and radiant, compared to the simultaneous rising of the sun and moon.