Shloka 31
भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः
Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal
ते विकर्ण समासाद्य कड्कबर्हिणवासस: । भित्त्वा देहं गता भूमिं ज्वलन्त इव पन्नगा:
te vikarṇa samāsādya kaṅkabārhiṇavāsasaḥ | bhittvā dehaṃ gatā bhūmiṃ jvalanta iva pannagāḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Ang mga palasong iyon, na ang mga buntot ay may balahibo ng mga ibong-tubig at pluma ng paboreal, ay tumama kay Vikarṇa; nilaslas ang kanyang katawan, tumagos at lumampas pa, saka bumagsak sa lupa na parang mga nagliliyab na ahas. Ipinapakita ng larawang ito ang walang-personang bagsik ng digmaan—kapag ang husay at poot ay ginagawang parang may buhay ang sandata, at ang katawan ng mandirigma ay nagiging maikling daanang tinatahak ng tadhana at karahasan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethical reality of war: once battle is joined, weapons act with a terrifying inevitability, and even valiant warriors are subject to sudden bodily destruction. It evokes the kṣatriya world where courage and skill operate within a larger, often merciless, flow of fate and conflict.
Sañjaya describes arrows striking Vikarna. Adorned with feathers, they pierce and split his body, then continue through and fall to the ground, compared to flaming serpents—an intense visual of the ferocity of the fighting.