Shloka 15

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

गोवृषो गौतमस्यासीत्‌ कृपस्य सुपरिष्कृत: । स तेन भ्राजते राजन्‌ गोवृषेण महारथ:

Transliteration

govṛṣo gautamasyāsīt kṛpasya supariṣkṛtaḥ | sa tena bhrājate rājan govṛṣeṇa mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „O König, das prächtig geschmückte Banner mit dem Stierzeichen, das einst Gautama gehörte, befindet sich nun im Besitz Kṛpas. Mit diesem Stieremblem erstrahlt der große Wagenkämpfer—sein Feldzeichen verkündet Abstammung und kriegerische Würde mitten im Getümmel der Schlacht.“

Word by Word

गोवृषःGovṛṣa (name; lit. ‘bull among cows’)

गौतमस्यof Gautama

आसीत्was

कृपस्यof Kṛpa

सुपरिष्कृतःwell-adorned, excellently equipped

सःhe

तेनby/with that (horse)

भ्राजतेshines, is resplendent

राजन्O king

गोवृषेणby/with (the horse) Govṛṣa

महारथःthe great chariot-warrior

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Gautama

Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)

govṛṣa (bull-emblem/standard)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how martial identity and reputation are conveyed through inherited or renowned emblems: a warrior’s standard is not mere decoration but a public sign of lineage, honor, and the role one assumes in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Kṛpa on the battlefield, noting that he bears a splendid bull-emblem standard associated with Gautama; this emblem makes the great warrior appear especially radiant and distinguished.