Shloka 23
द्रोणपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः (Droṇa Parva, Chapter 15): युधिष्ठिर-रक्षा तथा अर्जुनस्य शरवृष्टिः
ततो गदाग्राभिहतौ क्षणेन रुधिरोक्षितौ | ददृशाते महात्मानौ किंशुकाविव पुष्पितौ
tato gadāgrābhihatau kṣaṇena rudhirokṣitau | dadṛśāte mahātmānau kiṃśukāv iva puṣpitau ||
三阇耶说道：随后只在一瞬之间，两位大心之勇士被铁锤前端击中，浑身血染，望去宛如两株盛放的金舒迦树（帕拉沙树）。此偈揭示战争的惨烈反讽：看似“花开”的艳丽，其实是溅洒鲜血的猩红，提醒听者——勇武与暴烈常被视觉所粉饰，而其所指向的却是痛苦与死亡。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of warfare: the battlefield can aestheticize violence through poetic imagery (blood-red like blossoms), yet the underlying reality is injury and suffering. It cautions against confusing outward splendor of valor with the ethical cost of harm.
Two eminent warriors are struck by the tip/forepart of a mace and, in a moment, become covered in blood. Observers see them as resembling two kiṃśuka (palāśa) trees in bloom because of the vivid red coloration.