Shloka 203
Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ
Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement
रुक्मपुड्खै: शरैश्छिन्नाश्चित्ररूपा बभुस्तदा । राजन! उन दोनोंके वे रथ, वे घोड़े और वे सारथि सुवर्णमय पंखवाले बाणोंसे क्षत- विक्षत होकर उस समय विचित्ररूपसे सुशोभित हो रहे थे
rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śaraiś chinnāś citrarūpā babhūs tadā | rājan! ubhayos te rathās te hayās te sārathayaś ca suvarṇamaya-puṅkhavālair bāṇaiḥ kṣata-vikṣatāḥ san tadā vicitrarūpeṇa suśobhitā babhūvuḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—राजन्, तदा तयो रथौ तयोश्च हयाः सारथिश्च रुक्मपुङ्खैः शरैश्छिन्ना विदीर्णाश्च, क्षतविक्षताङ्गा इव विचित्ररूपेण शोभामुपजग्मुः—रणघातैरेव भूषणीकृताः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a moral tension of war: even grievous injury can appear 'ornamental' in the spectacle of battle, reminding the listener that martial glory often masks suffering and destruction.
Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra how the combatants’ chariots, horses, and charioteers are cut and mangled by golden-fletched arrows, yet appear visually striking—an image of battlefield intensity and damage.