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Shloka 32

Yuddha-yajña-vyākhyāna (The Battle as Sacrifice): Ambarīṣa–Indra Saṃvāda

वीरास्थिशर्करा दुर्गा मांसशोणितकर्दमा । असिचर्मप्लवा घोरा केशशैवलशाद्धला

vīrāsthiśarkarā durgā māṃsaśoṇitakardamā | asicarmaplavā ghorā keśaśaivalśāddhalā ||

Inilarawan ni Ambarīṣa ang isang nakapanghihilakbot na tanawin na tila kuta: ang graba nito’y mga buto ng mga bayani, ang putik nito’y laman at dugo, at tinatawid sa pamamagitan ng mga balsang yari sa talim ng espada at mga balat. Kasuklam-suklam at marumi, nababara ito ng buhok na parang lumot sa ilog at nagkalat ang mga namuong, di-dalisay na labi—larawang nilalayong gisingin ang pagkasuklam na moral sa karahasan at sa pagkapahamak na dala nito.

वीरास्थि-शर्कराhaving gravel (made) of heroes’ bones
वीरास्थि-शर्करा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवीर + अस्थि + शर्करा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
दुर्गाa fortress; difficult passage
दुर्गा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootदुर्गा
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
मांस-शोणित-कर्दमाhaving mire of flesh and blood
मांस-शोणित-कर्दमा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootमांस + शोणित + कर्दम
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
असि-चर्म-प्लवाhaving rafts (made) of swords and hides
असि-चर्म-प्लवा:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअसि + चर्म + प्लव
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
घोराterrible, dreadful
घोरा:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootघोर
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
केश-शैवल-शाद्वलाhaving grass/verdure of hair and algae
केश-शैवल-शाद्वला:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकेश + शैवल + शाद्वल
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular

अम्बरीष उवाच

A
Ambarīṣa
V
vīra (warriors/heroes)
A
asi (swords)
C
carma (hides/skins)

Educational Q&A

By portraying a landscape made of bones, blood, and weapons, the verse uses shock and revulsion to underline the ethical cost of violence and the tragic aftermath of war, urging reflection on dharma and restraint.

Ambarīṣa is describing a dreadful, obstacle-like place—evoking a battlefield or hellish passage—filled with the physical remnants of slaughter (bones, flesh, blood, swords, hides, hair), emphasizing its horror and moral warning.