Shloka 15
शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
तौ गदाभिह्ठ तैगत्रि: क्षणेन रुधिरोक्षितौ । प्रेक्षणीयतरावास्तां पुष्पिताविव किंशुकौ
tau gadābhighātair gātreṣu kṣaṇena rudhirokṣitau | prekṣaṇīyatarāv āstāṁ puṣpitāv iva kiṁśukau ||
三阇耶说道：两位勇士被彼此的钉头槌重击，肢体顷刻间布满创口，浸透鲜血。即便如此，他们却愈发令人瞩目——宛如两株盛放的金舒迦树（kiṁśuka，即婆罗沙 palāśa）——在战争的暴烈之中显出勇武那阴沉而辉煌的光彩。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of kṣatriya warfare: even amid grievous injury and bloodshed, steadfast courage and martial excellence are portrayed as a kind of terrible beauty. It invites reflection on how valor is admired while violence remains morally weighty.
Sañjaya describes two combatants in a mace-duel who, after receiving deep blows, are quickly covered in blood. Despite their wounds, they appear striking—compared to two palāśa (kiṁśuka) trees blazing with red blossoms.