Shloka 18
Nakula’s Engagement with Citra-sena and Karṇa’s Sons; Śalya Re-stabilizes the Kaurava Host
हाथीकी सूँड़के समान बहुत-सी भुजाएँ कटकर धरती-पर उछलती, लोटती और भयंकर वेग प्रकट करती थीं ।। शिरसां च महाराज पततां धरणीतले । च्युतानामिव तालेभ्यस्तालानां श्रूयते स्वन:,महाराज! पृथ्वीपर गिरते हुए मस्तकोंका शब्द, ताड़के वृक्षोंसे चूकर गिरे हुए फलोंके धमाकेकी आवाजके समान सुनायी देता था
śirasāṃ ca mahārāja patatāṃ dharaṇītale | cyutānām iva tālebhyaḥ tālānāṃ śrūyate svanaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Banyak lengan seperti belalai gajah tertebas, melantun di bumi, berguling-guling, menzahirkan kelajuan yang menggerunkan. Wahai Raja, ketika kepala-kepala jatuh ke tanah, bunyinya terdengar seperti dentuman buah kurma palma yang gugur dari pohonnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse does not preach directly, but its stark simile highlights the human cost of war: life and identity (symbolized by the head) are reduced to falling objects. It implicitly presses the ethical tension in kṣatriya-dharma—duty in battle versus the grievous suffering battle produces.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: severed heads are falling to the ground, and the thudding sound is compared to palm fruits dropping from palm trees, intensifying the scene’s horror and realism.