Shloka 11
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम शिलानां प्लवनं यथा । निश्चैष्टस्तद् रणे राजन् शिखण्डी समतिष्ठत,राजन! रणक्षेत्रमें शिखण्डी निश्चेष्ट होकर खड़ा रहा, यह वहाँ पत्थरके तैरनेके समान हमलोगोंने अद्भुत बात देखी
tatrādbhūtam apaśyāma śilānāṃ plavanaṃ yathā | niścaiṣṭas tad raṇe rājan śikhaṇḍī samatiṣṭhata ||
ข้าแต่พระราชา! ในศึกนั้นศิขัณฑีหยุดนิ่งยืนอยู่ เราได้เห็นความอัศจรรย์ประหนึ่งก้อนหินลอยน้ำ ณ ที่นั้น
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, amid war, events can appear utterly unnatural—suggesting the overpowering force of circumstance (daiva) and the psychological paralysis that can seize even a warrior. It underscores the Mahābhārata’s recurring theme that human agency may falter when confronted with fear, shock, or destiny-driven turns.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that on the battlefield they saw an astonishing sight: Śikhaṇḍī remained standing without action. The stillness is compared to the impossible image of stones floating, emphasizing how unexpected and striking Śikhaṇḍī’s inaction appeared in the midst of combat.