Shloka 4
नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च
Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault
तावुभौ समरे शूरौ शरकण्टकिनौ तदा । व्यराजेतां महाराज श्वाविधौ शललैरिव,महाराज! वे दोनों शूरवीर समरांगणमें बाणरूपी कंटकोंसे युक्त होकर काँटेदार शरीरवाले साहीके समान सुशोभित हो रहे थे
tāv ubhau samare śūrāu śara-kaṇṭakinau tadā | vyarājetāṃ mahārāja śvāvidhau śalalair iva ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, kedua-dua pahlawan itu berdiri di tengah pertempuran, tubuh mereka dipenuhi anak panah seperti duri-duri tajam, namun tetap bersinar cemerlang—laksana dua ekor landak yang diselubungi durinya. Gambaran ini menegaskan keindahan yang ngeri dalam perang: keberanian tampak nyata, tetapi tidak terpisah daripada derita dan harga tubuh yang ditanggung.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of martial glory: warriors may 'shine' through courage and steadfastness, yet that radiance is inseparable from wounds and pain. It invites reflection on the ethical weight of war—valor does not erase suffering, but duty and endurance are still praised within the kṣatriya framework.
Sañjaya describes two opposing heroes in the battlefield who have been pierced by many arrows. Despite being covered with arrow-shafts like spikes, they remain standing and appear striking—compared to porcupines bristling with quills.