Shloka 61
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
नीलोत्पलसवर्णस्तु तपनीयविभूषिता: । शैब्यं चित्ररथं संख्ये चित्रमाल्या3वहन् हया:,नील-कमलके समान रंगवाले, सुवर्णमय आभूषणोंसे विभूषित विचित्र मालाओंवाले अश्व विचित्र रथसे युक्त राजा शैब्यको युद्धस्थलमें ले गये
nīlotpalasavarṇās tu tapanīyavibhūṣitāḥ | śaibyaṃ citrarathaṃ saṅkhye citramālyāvahan hayāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Di tengah pertempuran, kuda-kuda berwarna seperti teratai biru, dihiasi perhiasan emas dan membawa kalungan bunga beraneka, mengusung Raja Śaibya—di atas ratanya yang gemilang—masuk ke kancah perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the juxtaposition of royal magnificence with the solemn reality of warfare: external beauty and honorific display accompany a kṣatriya’s entry into battle, reminding the listener that glory and grave responsibility arise together in the arena of dharma and conflict.
Sañjaya describes King Śaibya being carried into the battlefield on a splendid chariot drawn by blue-lotus-colored horses, richly adorned with gold ornaments and decorated with colorful garlands.