Shloka 31
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५७
Arjuna’s targeted advance; Śalya–Karṇa dialogue; interception attempts
विचित्रमणिचित्रांश्व जातरूपपरिष्कृतान् । अश्वास्तरपरिस्तोमान् राड़कवान् पतितान् भुवि,“विचित्र मणियोंसे जटित और सोनेके तारोंसे विभूषित रंकुमृगके चमड़ेके बने हुए, घोड़ोंकी पीठपर बिछाये जानेवाले बहुत-से झूल भूमिपर पड़े हैं
vicitramaṇicitrāṃśva jātārūpapariṣkṛtān | aśvāstaraparistomān rāḍakāvān patitān bhuvi ||
三阇耶说道：“地上还散落着许多马背覆毯——本应铺在骏马背上的鞍毯——以杂色宝石交织，并缀以金线，乃取鲁鲁鹿之皮制成。于是战场呈现出王者华贵的倾覆：昂贵的饰物与安逸的享受，皆随其主人一同坠落。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the fragility of worldly magnificence: even the most luxurious royal accoutrements—gold-embroidered, gem-studded coverings—end up scattered on the ground in war, reminding the listener that pride in wealth and display is unstable before death and violence.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, noting that many ornate saddle-cloths and horse-coverings, made of fine deer-hide and decorated with gems and gold, are lying fallen on the earth—evidence of the chaos and losses among warriors and their mounts.