बृहत्क्षत्रं तु कैकेयं सुकुमारं हयोत्तमाः ॥
पलालधूमवर्णाभाः सैन्धवाः शीघ्रम् आवहन् ॥
मल्लिकाक्षाः पद्मवर्णा बाह्लिजाताः स्वलंकृताः ॥
शूरं शिखण्डिनः पुत्रं क्षत्रदेवम् उदावहन् ॥
युवानम् अवहन् युद्धे क्रौञ्चवर्णा हयोत्तमाः ॥
काश्यस्याभिभुवः पुत्रं सुकुमारं महारथम् ॥
bṛhatkṣatraṃ tu kaikeyaṃ sukumāraṃ hayottamāḥ ||
palāladhūmavarṇābhāḥ saindhavāḥ śīghram āvahan ||
mallikākṣāḥ padmavarṇā bāhlijātāḥ svalaṃkṛtāḥ ||
śūraṃ śikhaṇḍinaḥ putraṃ kṣatradevam udāvahan ||
yuvānam avahan yuddhe krauñcavarṇā hayottamāḥ ||
kāśyasyābhibhuvaḥ putraṃ sukumāraṃ mahāratham ||
Brihatkshatra, the youthful Kaikeya, was carried swiftly by finest Sindhu horses, the color of straw-smoke. Jasmine-eyed, lotus-colored, handsome horses of Bahli breed carried the warrior Kshatradeva, son of Shikhandin. And finest horses the color of the krauncha crane carried in battle the youth Sukumara, son of Abhibhu of Kashi, a great chariot-warrior.
7465012de42e · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:11:21 PM UTC
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Twice in these verses youth is mentioned -- "youthful" Brihatkshatra, "the youth" Sukumara: into the ranks step also the quite young, alongside seasoned warriors. The colors of their horses are tender -- lotus, jasmine-eyed -- as if echoing the freshness of their years. And yet these young men go to the same mortal battle as their elders. It is telling that the account does not hide their youth. The verse teaches that war spares not even the young, calling to the field those who should be blossoming; that valor does not wait for gray hair, and a youth stands where men stand; and that in this tender growth going to slaughter, the price of war is especially bitter -- for those who perish had not yet had time to bloom.