Shloka 16
स्त्री-विलापः — गान्धार्याः रणभूमिदर्शनं शापवचनं च
Battlefield Lament and Gāndhārī’s Curse
तप्तकाञ्चनवर्माणस्तालध्वजरथव्रजा: । भासयन्ति महीं भासा ज्वलिता इव पावका:,इन सबके कवच तपाये हुए सुवर्णके बने हैं और इनके रथसमूह तालचिह्नलित ध्वजाओंसे सुशोभित हैं। ये राजकुमार अपनी प्रभासे प्रज्वलित अग्निके समान भूतलको प्रकाशित कर रहे हैं
taptakāñcanavarmāṇas tāladhvajarathavrajāḥ | bhāsayanti mahīṃ bhāsā jvalitā iva pāvakāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Mereka bersalut zirah emas yang berkilau seakan-akan dipanaskan, dan bergerak dalam rombongan kereta perang yang bertanda panji pohon palma. Dengan sinar mereka, bumi diterangi—laksana api yang menyala marak.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the seductive brilliance of martial power—golden armor and radiant chariot-hosts—while, in the Stree Parva’s context of mourning, it implicitly contrasts outward splendor with the tragic cost of war, reminding readers of the impermanence of worldly glory.
Vaiśampāyana describes a group of princes/warriors advancing in chariots with palm-emblem banners, wearing shining golden armor; their collective radiance is compared to blazing fire as it seems to light up the earth.