Shloka 423
कर्णस्य दानप्रतिज्ञा–शल्योपदेश–वाक्ययुद्धम्
Karna’s Gift-Vows, Shalya’s Counsel, and the Battle of Words
Devanagari script
महारागानुरक्तानि वस्त्राणीव चकाशिरे | खूनसे भीगे हुए शस्त्र और कवच गाढ़े रंगमें रँगे हुए वस्त्रोंक॒ समान सुशोभित होते थे
Transliteration
mahārāgānuraktāni vastrāṇīva cakāśire |
Translation
三阇耶说道：兵刃与甲胄浸透鲜血，却闪耀如同被浓烈绛红深染的衣袍。此景更添战场那阴森而华丽的光彩，也揭示战争竟能使伤害之器呈现出迷惑人的美。
Word by Word
महाgreat/very (as intensifier in compound)
महा:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहत्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
रागdye, color
राग:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootराग
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural
अनुरक्तानिdyed, colored, reddened
अनुरक्तानि:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुरक्त
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
वस्त्राणिgarments, cloths
वस्त्राणि:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवस्त्र
FormNeuter, Nominative, Plural
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
चand
च:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच
चकाशिरेshone, appeared splendid
चकाशिरे:
TypeVerb
Rootकाश्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Plural
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
S
SañjayaW
weapons (śastra)A
armor (kavaca)B
bloodCharacter Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of war: bloodshed can be portrayed with a terrible beauty, reminding the listener to look beyond surface splendor and recognize the underlying violence and suffering.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene where weapons and armor, soaked in blood, appear to shine like richly dyed garments—an evocative visual detail within the ongoing combat of the Karṇa Parva.