Shloka 9
कृष्णेन अर्जुनस्य प्रोत्साहनम् — Kṛṣṇa’s Exhortation to Arjuna
Prelude to Karṇa’s Slaying
यथा वा वाससी शुक्ले महार०ञ्जनरजञ्जिते
yathā vā vāsasī śukle mahārañjanarajañjite | athavā yathā kācid śyāmavarṇā yuvatī śvetavarṇāni vāsāṃsi haridrāyā gāḍhena rañgena rañjayitvā paridadhyāt | tathaiva sā raṇabhūmiḥ pratibhāti sma | māṃsaśoṇitacitrā sā bhūmiḥ suvarṇamayīva pratibhāti sma |
Wika ni Sañjaya: Kung paanong ang dalawang puting kasuotan, kapag ibinabad sa matapang na tina, ay kumakapit ang malalim na kulay nito—o kung paanong ang isang dalagang maitim ang kutis ay magsusuot ng puting telang pinakulayan ng makapal na dilaw ng luyang-dilaw—gayon din ang anyo ng larangan ng digmaan. Bagaman wari’y ipininta ng laman at dugo, ang lupang iyon, sa isang nakapanghihilakbot na kabalintunaan, ay nagmistulang may kintab na parang ginto.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical paradox of war: the battlefield can appear visually striking—almost ‘golden’—even while it is saturated with blood and death. It cautions that outward brilliance can conceal inner horror, urging discernment (viveka) and a dharmic evaluation beyond appearances.
Sañjaya, narrating the Kurukṣetra war, uses vivid similes of dyed white cloth and turmeric-stained garments to describe how the battlefield looked. He conveys that the ground, though smeared with flesh and blood, seemed to shine with a deceptive, gold-like appearance.