Shloka 15

Devanagari script

गोवृषो गौतमस्यासीत्‌ कृपस्य सुपरिष्कृत: । स तेन भ्राजते राजन्‌ गोवृषेण महारथ:

Transliteration

govṛṣo gautamasyāsīt kṛpasya supariṣkṛtaḥ | sa tena bhrājate rājan govṛṣeṇa mahārathaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O King, the splendidly adorned bull-banner that once belonged to Gautama is now in Kṛpa’s possession. With that bull-emblem the great chariot-warrior shines forth—his standard proclaiming his lineage and martial dignity amid the turmoil of battle.”

Word by Word

गोवृषःGovṛṣa (name; lit. ‘bull among cows’)

गौतमस्यof Gautama

आसीत्was

कृपस्यof Kṛpa

सुपरिष्कृतःwell-adorned, excellently equipped

सःhe

तेनby/with that (horse)

भ्राजतेshines, is resplendent

राजन्O king

गोवृषेणby/with (the horse) Govṛṣa

महारथःthe great chariot-warrior

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Gautama

Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)

govṛṣa (bull-emblem/standard)

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 how martial identity and reputation are conveyed through inherited or renowned emblems: a warrior’s standard is not mere decoration but a public sign of lineage, honor, and the role one assumes in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Kṛpa on the battlefield, noting that he bears a splendid bull-emblem standard associated with Gautama; this emblem makes the great warrior appear especially radiant and distinguished.