Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 35
शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्
Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally
रथिन: पतमानाश्ष दृश्यने सम नरोत्तमा: | गगनात् प्रच्युता: सिद्धा: पुण्यानामिव संक्षये
rathinaḥ patamānāś ca dṛśyante sma narottamāḥ | gaganāt pracyutāḥ siddhāḥ puṇyānām iva saṅkṣaye ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: “Ang mga pinakadakila sa mga tao, ang mga bantog na mandirigmang nakasakay sa karwahe, ay nakitang bumabagsak—gaya ng mga siddha na nahuhulog mula sa langit kapag naubos na ang kanilang naimpong kabutihan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the greatest heroes are subject to decline and death; the simile of siddhas falling when merit is exhausted underscores impermanence and the moral logic of karma—worldly glory and even heavenly attainments are not permanent.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene where eminent chariot-warriors are visibly falling in combat, comparing their downfall to celestial perfected beings dropping from the sky at the end of their accumulated merit.