Shloka 58
Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel and the Discharge of the Śakti (शल्यवधप्रसङ्गः)
पुष्पिती शुशुभाते वै वसन्ते किंशुकौ यथा । दीप्यमानौ महात्मानौ प्राणद्यूतेन दुर्मदौ
puṣpitī śuśubhāte vai vasante kiṃśukau yathā | dīpyamānau mahātmānau prāṇadyūtena durmadau ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Dua pahlawan berhati agung itu bersinar laksana pohon kiṃśuka yang berbunga pada musim bunga. Namun, dipanaskan oleh ‘pertaruhan nyawa’—judi maut di medan perang—mereka mabuk oleh keangkuhan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer brilliance and martial excellence can coexist with inner moral danger: pride and intoxication with violence (‘staking one’s life’ as a gamble) can cloud judgment and hasten ruin. The verse cautions that splendor in war is ethically ambiguous when driven by arrogance.
Sañjaya describes two eminent fighters at the height of their radiance on the battlefield, comparing them to flaming kiṃśuka blossoms in spring. At the same time, he notes their overconfidence—fired up by the life-and-death gamble of combat.