Shloka 93

Devanagari script

कर्णस्याशीविषनि भा रत्नसारमयी दृढा । पुरन्दरधनु:प्रख्या हस्तिकक्ष्या व्ययाजत

Transliteration

karṇasyāśīviṣanibhā ratnasāramayī dṛḍhā | purandaradhanuḥprakhyā hastikakṣyā vyayājata ||

Translation

قال سنجيا: وعلى راية كارنا لمعَت علامة كحزام الفيل، كأنها سلسلة، مصوغة من خلاصة الجواهر، صلبة لا تلين. ملتفّة كأفعى سامة، ومتألقة كقوس إندرا في السماء، كانت تُعلن بهاء راية كارنا وكبرياءه الحربي وسط صراعٍ عادلٍ لكنه مُدمِّر.

Word by Word

• कर्णस्य: of Karna
• कर्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• आशीविषनिभा: having the appearance of a venomous serpent
• आशीविषनिभा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशीविष-निभा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• रत्नसारमयी: made of the essence/solid mass of gems
• रत्नसारमयी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रत्नसार-मय
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• दृढा: firm, strong
• दृढा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• पुरन्दरधनुःप्रख्या: splendid like Purandara's (Indra's) bow (rainbow-like)
• पुरन्दरधनुःप्रख्या: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरन्दर-धनुस्-प्रख्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• हस्तिकक्ष्या: elephant-girth/strap (chain-like band)
• हस्तिकक्ष्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति-कक्ष्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• व्ययाजत्: shone, appeared splendid
• व्ययाजत्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (यजँ देवपूजासंगतिकरणदानेषु) + वि-
• Form: Imperfect (Lan), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Purandara (Indra)
• dhvaja/patākā (banner/standard)
• hastikakṣyā (elephant-chain/girth emblem)
• āśīviṣa (venomous serpent)
• Indra’s bow (rainbow)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how outward splendor—martial emblems, banners, and radiant insignia—can project power and prestige in war, yet remains part of a larger dharmic tragedy where brilliance and strength do not by themselves determine righteousness or ultimate outcome.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing Karṇa’s war-standard: an elephant-chain-like emblem on the banner, jewel-made and strong, shaped like a venomous serpent and shining like Indra’s rainbow—highlighting Karṇa’s formidable presence on the battlefield.