Shloka 31

Devanagari script

कर्णिकारध्वजं चैव सिंहकेतुररिंदम: । प्रत्युज्जगाम सौभद्रं राजपुत्रो बृहद्धलः,कर्णिकारके चिह्नसे युक्त ध्वजवाले सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युपर सिंहचिह्वलित ध्वजावाले शत्रुदमन राजकुमार बृहद्वलने आक्रमण किया

Transliteration

karṇikāradhvajaṃ caiva siṃhaketurarindamaḥ | pratyujjagāma saubhadraṃ rājaputro bṛhaddhalaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The prince Bṛhaddhala, a subduer of foes, bearing a banner marked with karṇikāra blossoms and a lion-emblem, advanced to confront Saubhadra (Abhimanyu). In the moral atmosphere of the war, this depicts the inevitable clash of renowned warriors where personal valor and loyalty to one’s side are tested amid the larger demands of kṣatriya-dharma.

Word by Word

कर्णिकारध्वजम्him whose banner bore the karnikāra (golden-flower) emblem

चand

एवindeed/just

सिंहकेतुम्him whose banner bore a lion-emblem

अरिंदमःenemy-subduing (one)

प्रत्युज्जगामwent forth to meet/advanced against

सौभद्रम्the son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu)

राजपुत्रःthe prince

बृहद्धलःBṛhaddhala (proper name)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bṛhaddhala

Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)

karṇikāra-dhvaja (banner with karṇikāra emblem)

siṃha-ketu (lion-emblem/banner)

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 kṣatriya-dharma in practice: warriors, bound by allegiance and duty, meet in direct combat. It underscores how personal courage and reputation operate within the larger ethical burden of war, where each side pursues its perceived obligation despite tragic consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava prince Bṛhaddhala, identifiable by his karṇikāra-marked banner and lion emblem, advances to engage Saubhadra—Abhimanyu—signaling a direct confrontation between notable fighters on the battlefield.