Shloka 663

अध्याय ६० — कर्णस्य पाञ्चाल-सोमक-निग्रहः

Karna’s Suppression of the Panchala–Somaka Forces

Devanagari script

रेजुरभ्यधिकं संख्ये विद्युत्वन्त इवाम्बुदा: । सोने और मणियोंकी जालियोंसे ढके हुए वे हाथी युद्धस्थलमें बिजलियोंसहित मेघोंके समान अधिक प्रकाशित हो रहे थे

Transliteration

rejur abhyadhikaṁ saṅkhye vidyutvanta iva ambudāḥ |

Translation

Санджая сказал: В гуще сражения они сияли необычайно — словно тучи, прорезанные молниями. Боевые слоны, покрытые решётчатыми убранствами из золота и самоцветов, заставляли поле брани пылать блеском, усиливая и трепет, и ужас битвы.

Word by Word

• रेजुः: shone, glittered
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• अभ्यधिकम्: exceedingly, more (than usual)
• अभ्यधिकम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभ्यधिक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• संख्ये: in battle
• संख्ये: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संख्या
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• विद्युत्वन्तः: possessing lightning, with lightning
• विद्युत्वन्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्युत्वत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अम्बुदाः: clouds
• अम्बुदाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बुद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• battlefield (saṅkhya)
• clouds (ambudāḥ)
• lightning (vidyut)
• war-elephants (implied by context)
• gold
• gems/jewels

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the paradox of worldly magnificence—gold and jewels—being used to intensify warfare. It invites reflection on how splendor and power can magnify harm when yoked to adharma-driven conflict, and how external brilliance does not imply moral worth.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene: war-elephants adorned with golden and jeweled net-like coverings appear dazzling, compared to thunderclouds lit by lightning, emphasizing the scale and spectacle of the fighting.