Mahabharata 7.21.40 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 21, Shloka 40
द्रोणविक्रमदर्शनम् / The Display of Droṇa’s Onslaught and the Debate on Pāṇḍava Regrouping
वीरास्थिशर्करां रौद्रां भेरीमुरजकच्छपाम् । चर्मवर्मप्लवां घोरां केशशैवलशाद्धलाम्
vīrāsthiśarkarāṁ raudrāṁ bherīmurajakacchapām | carmavarmaplavāṁ ghorāṁ keśaśaivalśādvalām ||
ସେଇ ଭୟଙ୍କର ସ୍ରୋତରେ ବୀରମାନଙ୍କ ଅସ୍ଥି ବାଲି ଓ କଙ୍କଡ଼ ପରି ଲାଗୁଥିଲା; ଭେରୀ ଓ ମୁରଜ ଢୋଲ କଛପ ପରି ଦେଖାଯାଉଥିଲା; ଢାଳ ଓ କବଚ ନାଉ ପରି ଭାସୁଥିଲା। କେଶ ହିଁ ସେଠାରେ ଶେଉଳ ଓ ଘାସ ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲା। ଏହା ବିଜୟର ଚିତ୍ର ନୁହେଁ—ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ନୈତିକ ଭୟାବହତାର ଚିତ୍ର; କୌଶଳ ଯେତେବେଳେ ହିଂସାରେ ମୁକ୍ତ ହୁଏ, ରଣଧାରା ସାହସୀ ଓ ଭୀତ—ଦୁହେଁକୁ ସମାନଭାବେ ବହାଇ ନେଉଛି।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical gravity of war: even when fought under kṣatriya duty, battle produces a dehumanizing devastation. The poetic ‘river’ imagery functions as moral commentary—martial prowess can become a force that sweeps away life indiscriminately, warning the listener not to romanticize violence.
Sañjaya describes Droṇa’s onslaught in the Kurukṣetra war through an extended metaphor: the battlefield becomes a terrifying river where bones are gravel, drums are tortoises, and shields/armor are boats, conveying the scale and dreadfulness of the slaughter.
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