Shloka 63
अस्त्रयुद्धे द्रौणिपार्थसंघर्षः — Karṇa’s Bhārgavāstra and the Search for Yudhiṣṭhira
Chapter 45
एते सुपरिघाकारा: पुण्यगन्धानुलेपना: । उद्यतायुधशौण्डानां पात्यन्ते सायुधा भुजा:,“अस्त्र उठाये हुए युद्ध-कुशल वीरोंकी ये परिघ-जैसी मोटी और पवित्र सुगन्धयुक्त चन्दनसे चर्चित भुजाएँ आयुधोंसहित काटकर गिरायी जाने लगी हैं
ete supari-ghākārāḥ puṇya-gandhānulepanāḥ | udyatāyudha-śauṇḍānāṁ pātyante sāyudhā bhujāḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Lengan-lengan ini—tebal seperti belantan besi, disapu pes cendana yang suci dan harum—milik para pahlawan mahir yang mengangkat senjata, sedang ditebas hingga gugur, masih menggenggam senjata mereka.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark reality of warfare: outward marks of auspiciousness and valor—fragrant sandal paste, powerful arms, raised weapons—do not protect one from destruction. It implicitly warns of the impermanence of bodily strength and the moral cost of violent conflict.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield carnage in the Karṇa Parva: warriors with weapons lifted are being struck down so that their club-like arms, still bearing weapons, are severed and fall to the ground.