Shloka 44
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
तदर्कचन्द्रग्रहपावकव्विषं भृशातिपातात् पतितं विचूर्णितम् । महेन्द्रवज्ाभिहतं महास्वनं यथाद्रिशुड्रं धरणीतले तथा
tad arkacandra-graha-pāvakopamaṃ bhṛśātitāpāt patitaṃ vicūrṇitam | mahendra-vajrābhihataṃ mahāsvanaṃ yathādriśṛṅgaṃ dharaṇītale tathā ||
Disse Sañjaya: Aquela coroa, radiante como o sol, a lua, os planetas e o fogo, foi atingida pelo tomara com força esmagadora; despedaçada, caiu à terra com um estrondo tremendo—como um pico de montanha, ferido pelo vajra de Indra, que desaba ao chão com grande ruído.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the impermanence of worldly splendor and status: even a crown shining like celestial fires can be shattered in an instant. In the ethical atmosphere of the Kurukṣetra war, it suggests that power and honor are vulnerable to the consequences of violent deeds and fate.
Sañjaya describes a warrior’s crown being struck by a tomara; it breaks apart and falls to the ground with a loud crash. The fall is compared to a mountain summit collapsing when hit by Indra’s thunderbolt.