Shloka 14
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
सुस्त्राव रुधिरं गात्रैगैरिकं पर्वतो यथा । महाराज! उन महारथियोंद्वारा अत्यन्त घायल कर दिये जानेपर राजा शल्य अपने अंगोंसे रक्तकी धारा बहाने लगे, मानो पर्वत गेरु-मिश्रित जलका झरना बहा रहा हो ।। १३ * तांश्व॒ सर्वान् महेष्वासान् पञ्चभि: पञ्चभि: शरै:
su-strāva rudhiraṃ gātrair gaerikaṃ parvato yathā | mahārāja! un mahārathībhir atyantaṃ ghālayitvā rājā śalyaḥ svāṅgair rudhira-dhārāḥ prasrāvayām āsa, yathā parvataḥ gaerika-miśrita-jalaṃ jharam iva muñcati ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai raja agung, apabila para maharathi itu telah mencederakannya dengan amat parah, Raja Śalya pun mengalirkan darah dari anggota-anggota tubuhnya—bagaikan gunung yang melepaskan curahan air terjun bercampur warna merah oker.” Gambaran ini menegaskan harga perang yang kejam: keperkasaan dan darjat tidak melindungi seseorang daripada akibat jasmani keganasan, dan medan tempur merendahkan bahkan raja menjadi tubuh yang menanggung derita.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark reality of war: even the greatest warriors and kings are subject to pain and bodily ruin. The ethical undertone is a sobering reminder that martial glory is inseparable from suffering and loss, urging reflection on the human cost behind kṣatriya valor.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that King Śalya has been severely wounded by powerful chariot-warriors. Blood streams from Śalya’s limbs, compared poetically to a mountain sending down a reddish, ochre-tinted cascade.