Shloka 38
आयोधनदर्शनम्
Viewing the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
बिभ्रत: कवचान्यन्ये विमलान्यायुधानि च । न धर्षयन्ति क्रव्यादा जीवन्तीति जनार्दन,“जनार्दन! बहुत-से योद्धा चमकीले कवच और आयुध धारण किये हुए हैं, जिससे उन्हें जीवित समझकर मांसभक्षी जन्तु उनपर आक्रमण नहीं करते हैं
bibhrataḥ kavacāny anye vimalāny āyudhāni ca | na dharṣayanti kravyādā jīvantīti janārdana ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Ó Janārdana, muitos guerreiros ainda trazem armaduras brilhantes e armas imaculadas. Vendo-os assim equipados, as criaturas devoradoras de carne não ousam atacá-los, pensando que ainda estão vivos.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the tragic irony of war: outward signs of life—shining armor and intact weapons—can mask death, reminding the listener of impermanence and the ethical weight of violence and its aftermath.
In the battlefield aftermath, some fallen warriors still appear ‘alive’ because they remain clad in bright armor and weapons; therefore scavenging flesh-eaters hesitate to approach, mistaking them for living fighters.