Shloka 12
Bhīṣma-parva Adhyāya 16 — Saṃjaya’s Boon, Bhīṣma’s Protection, and the Dawn Arraying of Armies
काज्चना मणिचित्राज्रा ज्वलन्त इव पावका: । अर्चिष्मन्तो व्यरोचन्त गजारोहा: सहस्रश:
kāñcanā maṇicitrāṅgā jvalanta iva pāvakāḥ | arcīṣmanto vyarocanta gajārohāḥ sahasraśaḥ ||
Sañjaya thưa: Hàng nghìn chiến sĩ cưỡi voi, đeo trang sức vàng và thân thể rực rỡ bởi những món ngọc báu muôn màu, chói sáng lạ thường—như những đám lửa bừng cháy với ngọn lửa tung bay—tỏa hào quang khắp chiến địa.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily serves epic narration rather than direct moral instruction: it highlights how outward brilliance—gold, jewels, and martial display—can intensify the awe and momentum of war, reminding the listener that conflict is driven not only by strategy but also by spectacle, pride, and the projection of power.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the sight of thousands of elephant-mounted warriors on the field, glittering with gold and jeweled ornaments; their collective radiance is compared to blazing fire with flames, emphasizing the scale and intimidating grandeur of the army.