Shloka 98

Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)

Devanagari script

सच पारावताश्वस्य रथे हेमपरिष्कृते । कोविदारध्वजं दृष्टवा भीमसेन: समाश्वसत्‌

Transliteration

sa ca pārāvatāśvasya rathe hemapariṣkṛte | kovidāradhvajaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhīmasenaḥ samāśvasat ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: Seeing the banner marked with the kovidāra tree flying upon the splendid, gold-adorned chariot drawn by dove-coloured horses—Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna’s chariot—Bhīmasena felt a surge of reassurance. Amid war’s uncertainty, a trusted ally’s emblem and readiness steady the mind and renew resolve for duty.

Word by Word

• सच: and/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स
• Form: particle (emphatic/connecting)

• पारावताश्वस्य: of the dove-colored horse
• पारावताश्वस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारावताश्व
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

• रथे: in/on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• हेमपरिष्कृते: adorned with gold
• हेमपरिष्कृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेमपरिष्कृत
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• कोविदारध्वजम्: the kovidāra-tree banner/standard
• कोविदारध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोविदारध्वज
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: absolutive (क्त्वा), indeclinable

• भीमसेनः: Bhīmasena
• भीमसेनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीमसेन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• समाश्वसत्: took heart / was reassured
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-श्वस्
• Form: imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, singular, parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīmasena (Bhīma)
• Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna
• chariot (ratha)
• gold adornment (hema-pariṣkāra)
• kovidāra/kacanāra emblem (dhvaja)
• dove-coloured horses (pārāvata-aśva)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

In a crisis like war, confidence is strengthened by reliable companions and clear signs of preparedness. The verse highlights how symbols of allied strength and leadership can steady one’s mind, helping a warrior remain firm in dharma—performing one’s duty without wavering.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Bhīma noticing Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna’s richly decorated chariot, drawn by dove-coloured horses, with a banner bearing the kovidāra (kacanāra) emblem. Seeing this, Bhīma feels reassured and encouraged on the battlefield.