द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
नानारूपै रत्नचिट्रैर्वरूथरथकार्मुकै: । वाजिध्वजपताक्शभिश्षिन्रैश्षित्रो5भ्यवर्तत
nānārūpair ratnacitrair varūtharathakārmukaiḥ | vājidhvajapatākṣabhis chinnaiś citro 'bhyavartata ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian maju suatu pemandangan yang mengagumkan, beraneka rupa—para pahlawan berzirah dengan kereta dan busur berhias tatahan permata; namun kuda-kuda, panji-panji, dan bendera-bendera banyak yang koyak dan patah—bergerak ke hadapan dalam himpunan yang kacau tetapi memukau.
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the paradox of war: even the most splendid instruments of power—gem-studded armour, chariots, and banners—are quickly reduced to broken remnants. It implicitly points to the fragility of worldly grandeur and the heavy cost of violence.
Sañjaya describes a force (or battlefield scene) advancing in a striking, variegated mass: armoured warriors with jewel-ornamented chariots and bows, alongside horses and banners, many of which are torn or broken—suggesting intense combat and the wreckage of war.