Shloka 25

Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

सतु दृष्टवा विमुहार॒न्तं स्वयमेवोत्तरस्तत: । कवचेन महाहेण समनहाद्‌ बृहन्नलाम्‌,बृहत्नलाको (कवच धारणके समय) भूल करती देख राजकुमार उत्तरने स्वयं ही उसे बहुमूल्य कवच धारण कराया

Transliteration

sa tu dṛṣṭvā vimūḍhāntaṃ svayam evottaras tataḥ | kavacena mahārheṇa samanahād bṛhannalām ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: Als er sah, dass Bṛhannalā verwirrt war und beim Anlegen der Rüstung Fehler machte, rüstete Prinz Uttara sie eigenhändig mit einem äußerst kostbaren Kettenpanzer aus. Die Begebenheit betont die Dringlichkeit rechter Vorbereitung vor der Gefahr und die Pflicht eines Kṣatriya, die Kampfbereitschaft zu sichern, selbst wenn der zu Rüstende äußerlich ungeeignet oder zögernd erscheint.

Word by Word

सःhe (Uttara)

तुbut/indeed

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

विमूढम्bewildered/confused

स्वयम्himself

एवindeed/just

उत्तरःUttara (the prince)

ततःthen/thereupon

कवचेनwith/by a cuirass (armor)

महाहेणgreat/valuable (as an attribute of the armor)

समनहात्he fastened/armed (her/him)

बृहन्नलाम्Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Uttara (Prince Uttara)

Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise)

kavaca (armor/coat of mail)

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?

Even when confusion or incompetence appears, dharma in a crisis demands practical responsibility: ensuring proper readiness and protection. Uttara’s act highlights leadership through action—securing the necessary means (armor) for the task at hand.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the battle situation approaches, Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise) appears bewildered while handling the equipment. Seeing this, Prince Uttara personally helps by fitting her with a very valuable coat of mail.