Shloka 49

अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च

Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter

Devanagari script

दण्डं च राजन्‌ समरे चित्र चित्रायुधं हरिम्‌ । सिंहकेतुं रोचमानं शलभं च महारथम्‌

Transliteration

daṇḍaṃ ca rājan samare citra-citrāyudhaṃ harim | siṃhaketum rocamānaṃ śalabhaṃ ca mahāratham

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: „O König, in jener Schlacht waren auch Daṇḍa und Hari — Träger wunderbarer, vielfarbiger Waffen — glänzend unter einem Banner mit Löwenemblem; und auch Śalabha, ein großer Wagenkämpfer.“

Word by Word

दण्डम्Danda (a warrior named Daṇḍa)

चand

राजन्O king

समरेin battle

चित्रCitra (a warrior named Citra)

चित्रायुधम्having wondrous weapons

हरिम्Hari (a warrior named Hari)

सिंहकेतुम्having a lion-banner

रोचमानम्shining, resplendent

शलभम्Śalabha (a warrior named Śalabha)

चand

महारथम्a great chariot-warrior

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Daṇḍa

Hari

Śalabha

siṃhaketū (lion-banner/emblem)

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 underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethical frame of kṣatriya-dharma: war is portrayed through disciplined enumeration of combatants and their insignia, reminding the listener that actions in battle are bound to role-based duty and accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues reporting to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, listing notable warriors present in the fight—Daṇḍa, Hari with striking weapons and a lion-banner, and Śalabha—highlighting their prominence as mahārathas.