Shloka 7
नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च
Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault
तावुभौ समरे शूरौ शरकण्टकिनौ तदा । व्यराजेतां महाराज कण्टकैरिव शाल्मली,महाराज! जैसे काँटोंसे सेमरका वृक्ष सुशोभित होता है, उसी प्रकार वे दोनों शूरवीर समरभूमिमें बाणरूपी कंटकोंसे युक्त दिखायी देते थे
tāv ubhau samare śūrāu śara-kaṇṭakinau tadā | vyarājetāṃ mahārāja kaṇṭakair iva śālmalī ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, ketika itu kedua-dua wira di medan perang tampak berseri, tubuh mereka dipenuhi anak panah seperti duri—sebagaimana pohon śālmalī (kapuk sutera) tampak menonjol apabila diselubungi duri-duri tajamnya. Gambaran ini menegaskan keindahan yang ngeri pada keberanian dalam perang: keberanian tetap bertahan walau tubuh ditembusi, dan ‘keindahan’ medan laga tidak terpisah daripada derita.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of martial glory: valor can appear ‘splendid’ even amid wounds. It reflects the epic’s sober view of kṣatriya-dharma—courage and steadfastness in battle—while implicitly reminding that such splendor is purchased through pain and violence.
Sañjaya describes two opposing heroes in the thick of combat. Both are pierced and covered with arrows, yet they still stand out on the battlefield, compared to a thorny śālmalī tree whose spines make it look striking.