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Shloka 28

भीष्मस्य मध्याह्नयुद्धवर्णनम् / Mid-day Battle Description: Bhīṣma Engaged by the Pāñcālas

प्रपतन्त सम वीरास्ते विरेजुर्भरतर्षभ । वसन्ते पुष्पशबलाश्षूता: प्रपतिता इव,भरतश्रेष्ठ) वे सभी वीर वहाँ गिरकर वसन्त-ऋतुमें धराशायी हुए पुष्पयुक्त आम्रवृक्षोंकी भाँति सुशोभित हो रहे थे

sañjaya uvāca |

prapatanta sama vīrās te virejur bharatarṣabha |

vasante puṣpaśabalāḥ śūtāḥ prapatitā iva ||

三阇耶说道:噢,婆罗多族中的雄牛啊!那些勇士在战场上齐齐倒下,却仍显得光彩夺目——如同春日里繁花斑斓的芒果树,被砍伐后横卧大地。此颂凸显战争中勇武的悲壮尊严:纵然倾覆,昔日生命之美的痕迹仍在,令人反思冲突的代价与有形荣光的无常。

प्रपतन्तwere falling down
प्रपतन्त:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-√पत्
Formलङ् (Imperfect), 3, Plural, परस्मैपद
सम्together; completely
सम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसम्
वीराःheroes, warriors
वीराः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवीर
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
तेthose
ते:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विरेजुःshone; appeared splendid
विरेजुः:
TypeVerb
Rootवि-√राज्
Formलिट् (Perfect), 3, Plural, परस्मैपद
भरतर्षभO bull among the Bharatas
भरतर्षभ:
TypeNoun
Rootभरत-ऋषभ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
वसन्तेin spring
वसन्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootवसन्त
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
पुष्पशबलाःvariegated with blossoms; flower-speckled
पुष्पशबलाः:
TypeAdjective
Rootपुष्प-शबल
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
शूताḥfallen/strewn (down)
शूताḥ:
TypeAdjective
Rootशूत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
प्रपतिताःhaving fallen down
प्रपतिताः:
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र-√पत्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural, क्त (past passive participle)
इवas if; like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
भरतश्रेष्ठO best of the Bharatas
भरतश्रेष्ठ:
TypeNoun
Rootभरत-श्रेष्ठ
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
D
Dhṛtarāṣṭra (implied by the vocative bharatarṣabha)
W
warriors (vīrāḥ)
M
mango trees (śūtāḥ/āmravṛkṣāḥ)
S
spring season (vasanta)

Educational Q&A

The verse highlights the poignancy of war: even as warriors fall, their valor and former splendor are remembered. It invites ethical reflection on the cost of violence and the fleeting nature of worldly glory, while acknowledging the kṣatriya ideal of courage.

Sañjaya describes to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the battlefield scene where many warriors have fallen together. Despite being slain, they appear striking—compared to blossom-laden mango trees in spring that have been cut down and lie on the ground.