Shloka 53

Devanagari script

नानावर्णविरागाभि: शुशुभु: सर्वतो वृता: । वे परम शोभासम्पन्न अनेक प्रकारके बहुरंगे ध्वज सब ओरसे नाना रंगकी पताकाओंद्वारा घिरकर बड़ी शोभा पाते थे

Transliteration

nānāvarṇavirāgābhiḥ śuśubhuḥ sarvato vṛtāḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Surrounded on all sides by many-colored, brilliantly dyed banners and streamers, they appeared splendid—an outward display of martial order and confidence amid the unfolding violence of war.

Word by Word

• नाना-वर्ण-विरागाभिः: by/with multicolored dyes/tints
• नाना-वर्ण-विरागाभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-वर्ण-विराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• शुशुभुः: shone; were splendid
• शुशुभुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सर्वतः: on all sides; everywhere
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)

• वृताः: surrounded; enclosed
• वृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (कृदन्त; √वृ 'to cover/surround')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• dhvaja (banners/standards)
• patākā (streamers/flags)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the contrast between outward splendor and the grim reality of battle: military pageantry (banners, colors, order) can mask the ethical weight of violence, reminding the reader that visible glory is transient and does not by itself confer righteousness (dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a force (or warriors/units) that looks magnificent because it is encircled by many vividly colored banners and streamers on all sides—an image of organized might and morale within the Drona Parva’s war setting.