Shloka 22
Droṇa’s Withdrawal, Death, and the Kaurava Rout (द्रोणनिधन-प्रसङ्गः)
छत्राणि वालव्यजनानि खड़््गा दीप्ता महोल्काश्न तथैव राजन् | व्याघूर्णमानाश्न सुवर्णमाला व्यायच्छतां तत्र तदा विरेजु:,राजन! छत्र, चँवर, खड्ग, प्रज्वलित विशाल उल्काएँ तथा वहाँ युद्ध करते हुए वीरोंकी हिलती हुई सुवर्णमालाएँ उस समय प्रदीपोंके प्रकाशसे बड़ी शोभा पा रही थीं
sañjaya uvāca |
chatrāṇi vālavya-janāni khaḍgā dīptā mahā-ulkāś ca tathaiva rājan |
vyāghūrṇamānāś ca suvarṇa-mālā vyāyacchatāṃ tatra tadā virejuḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, di sana payung kebesaran, kipas ekor yak (cāmara), pedang, dan suluh besar yang menyala—demikian juga kalung-kalung emas yang bergoyang pada para pahlawan ketika mereka bertempur—bersinar cemerlang pada saat itu, seolah-olah diterangi cahaya pelita.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it juxtaposes the outward splendor of royal emblems and ornaments with the grim reality of combat, implicitly reminding the listener that worldly magnificence persists even in destructive contexts and should not be mistaken for moral rightness.
Sañjaya reports to the king that, on the battlefield, parasols, yak-tail fans, swords, blazing firebrands, and the warriors’ golden ornaments were visibly shining and swaying as the fighters exerted themselves in battle, creating a scene of striking brilliance.