Shloka 313

Droṇa’s Withdrawal, Death, and the Kaurava Rout (द्रोणनिधन-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

भा: कुर्वता भानुमता ग्रहेण दिवाकरेणाग्निरिवाभिगुप्त: । जैसे किरणोंद्वारा सुशोभित और अपनी प्रभा बिखेरनेवाले सूर्यग्रहके द्वारा सुरक्षित अग्निदेव और भी प्रकाशित हो उठते हैं, उसी प्रकार प्रदीपोंकी प्रभासे अत्यन्त प्रकाशित होनेवाले उस पाण्डव सैन्यके द्वारा आपकी सेनाका प्रकाश और भी बढ़ गया

Transliteration

bhāḥ kurvatā bhānumatā graheṇa divākareṇāgnir ivābhiguptaḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „Wie das Feuer, vom strahlenden Sonnenball behütet und durch seine Strahlen noch herrlicher gemacht, umso heller leuchtet, so wurde auch der Glanz deines Heeres gesteigert durch jenes Pāṇḍava-Heer, das im Schein unzähliger Lampen erstrahlte.“

Word by Word

भाःby/with radiance, by light

कुर्वताby (one) doing/making

भानुमताby the radiant/luminous (one)

ग्रहेणby the seizer; by a planet (graha)

दिवाकरेणby the sun (day-maker)

अग्निःfire; Agni

इवlike, as

अभिगुप्तःprotected, guarded

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Sūrya (Divākara, Bhānumat, Graha)

Agni

Pāṇḍava army

Kaurava army

lamps/torches (pradīpa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how visible strength and order—symbolized by coordinated light and radiance—can amplify morale and perceived power in war; protection and brilliance together intensify presence, much like fire shines more when supported by a greater radiance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the battlefield scene has become intensely illuminated: the Pāṇḍava forces, bright with lamps/torches, make the Kaurava army’s appearance seem even more splendid, expressed through a simile of Agni shining under the Sun’s guarding radiance.