Shloka 17
Śalya-parva Adhyāya 26 — Duryodhana’s remnant formation and rapid engagements
स हत: प्रापतद् भूमौ स्वरथाद् रथिनां वर: । गिरेस्तु कूटजो भग्नो मारुतेनेव पादप:
sa hataḥ prāpatad bhūmau svarathād rathināṃ varaḥ | girestu kūṭajo bhagno māruten eva pādapaḥ ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਹਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ ਰਥੀਆਂ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਸ਼ਠ ਦੁਰਵਿਮੋਚਨ ਆਪਣੇ ਰਥ ਤੋਂ ਧਰਤੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਡਿੱਗ ਪਿਆ; ਜਿਵੇਂ ਪਹਾੜ ਦੀ ਚੋਟੀ ਉੱਤੇ ਉੱਗਿਆ ਰੁੱਖ ਤੇਜ਼ ਹਵਾ ਨਾਲ ਟੁੱਟ ਕੇ ਢਹਿ ਪੈਂਦਾ ਹੈ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the vulnerability of even the greatest warriors: worldly eminence and martial prowess can be overturned in an instant. The mountain-tree simile evokes impermanence and the overpowering momentum of forces (weapon-blow, fate, circumstance) that can fell what seems most firm.
In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a leading chariot-warrior is struck by an arrow/weapon and falls from his chariot onto the ground, compared to a summit-grown tree snapped by strong wind.