Shloka 21

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

शुशुभे केतुना तेन राजतेन जयद्रथ:

Transliteration

śuśubhe ketunā tena rājatenā jayadrathaḥ

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „Von jenem leuchtenden Banner geschmückt, trat Jayadratha glänzend hervor—sein Zeichen machte ihn im Wirrwarr der Schlacht weithin kenntlich und mahnte: Im Krieg können äußere Zeichen von Macht und Ansehen die Verbündeten beflügeln, aber auch Gefahr heraufbeschwören.“

Word by Word

• शुशुभे: shone, was splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Ātmanepada, 3, Singular

• केतुना: with/by the banner (standard)
• केतुना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• तेन: with/by that
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• राजतेन: silver(-colored), made of silver
• राजतेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजत
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• जयद्रथः: Jayadratha
• जयद्रथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयद्रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Jayadratha
• ketu (banner/standard)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how external symbols of status—like a radiant banner—can magnify a warrior’s presence. Ethically, it suggests that display and reputation in war are double-edged: they bolster morale and authority, yet also mark one out for consequence and retribution.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Jayadratha on the battlefield, emphasizing that he appears especially prominent because of his bright, shining standard.