Mahabharata · 7.72.8–9
॥
Devanāgarī
विनिकीर्णानि वीराणाम् अनीकेषु समन्ततः ॥
वस्त्राभरणशस्त्राणि ध्वजवर्मायुधानि च ॥
तपनीयविचित्राङ्गाः संसिक्ता रुधिरेण च ॥
संसक्ता इव दृश्यन्ते मेघसंघाः सविद्युतः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
vinikīrṇāni vīrāṇām anīkeṣu samantataḥ ||
vastrābharaṇaśastrāṇi dhvajavarmāyudhāni ca ||
tapanīyavicitrāṅgāḥ saṃsiktā rudhireṇa ca ||
saṃsaktā iva dṛśyante meghasaṃghāḥ savidyutaḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
विनिकीर्णानि वीराणाम्vinikīrṇāni vīrāṇāmthe scattered [gear] of the heroes; the scattered [adornments] of the heroes
अनीकेषु समन्ततःanīkeṣu samantataḥin the ranks everywhere; in the hosts everywhere
वस्त्राभरणशस्त्राणिvastrābharaṇaśastrāṇigarments, ornaments, weapons; garments, ornaments, weapons
ध्वजवर्मायुधानि चdhvajavarmāyudhāni caand banners, armor, weapons; and banners, armor, weapons
तपनीयविचित्राङ्गाःtapanīyavicitrāṅgāḥwith limbs adorned with gold; adorned with gold
संसिक्ताः रुधिरेण चsaṃsiktāḥ rudhireṇa caand sprinkled with blood; and sprinkled with blood
संसक्ताः इव दृश्यन्तेsaṃsaktāḥ iva dṛśyanteappear as if massed together; appear as massed together
मेघसंघाः सविद्युतःmeghasaṃghāḥ savidyutaḥmasses of clouds with lightning; masses of clouds with lightning
Translation
The scattered [gear] of the heroes everywhere among the ranks -- garments, ornaments, weapons, and banners, armor; [bodies] with limbs adorned in gold and sprinkled with blood appear as if massed clouds shot with lightning.
Version
4d7c8816c8dc · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:52:56 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Bloodied bodies in golden adornments -- 'meghasaṃghāḥ savidyutaḥ,' like clouds with lightning: gold gleams through blood as lightning through cloud. It is significant that the splendor of adornment is cast into dust and blood. The verse teaches that war turns everything precious into a heap upon the field: gold, weapons, finery -- all made for the brilliance of life -- become the trappings of death; and whoever sees these body-clouds shot with lightning will grasp the vanity of worldly splendor before the face of ruin.