Shloka 29

Devanagari script

ध्वजैराभरणैश्षित्रै: कवचैश्न हिरण्मयै: । वैजयन्तीपताकाभि: परिस्तोमाड्रकम्बलै:

Transliteration

dhvajair ābharaṇaiś citraiḥ kavacaiś ca hiraṇmayaiḥ | vaijayantī-patākābhiḥ paristomādrakambalaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “They were adorned with banners and ornate decorations, with golden coats of mail; with victory-flags and streamers, and with rich coverings and blankets—so the war-host appeared, splendidly arrayed even as it moved toward slaughter.”

Word by Word

ध्वजैःwith banners/flags

आभरणैःwith ornaments

चित्रैःvariegated/bright

कवचैःwith armours

नnot

हिरण्मयैःgolden (made of gold)

वैजयन्तीwith the Vaijayantī (victory-banner/garland; here: banner)

पताकाभिःwith pennons/streamers

परिस्तोमैःwith coverings/outer wraps (lit. enveloping layers)

अद्रिकम्बलैःwith mountain-wool blankets (thick blankets)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

dhvaja (banners/standards)

kavaca (armor)

vaijayantī-patākā (victory-flags)

paristoma (coverlets)

kambala (blankets)

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 the seductive grandeur of warfare—golden armor and victory-banners can make violence appear glorious. Ethically, it invites reflection on how external splendor can mask the inner reality of suffering and destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the battlefield scene and the warriors’ equipment and adornments—banners, flags, golden armor, and rich coverings—emphasizing the impressive, ceremonial appearance of the forces as the conflict intensifies.