Shloka 28
उपायैः पूर्ववधकथनम् / Strategic Justifications for Prior Eliminations
Devanagari script
ततः: सा भारती सेना मणिहेमविभूषिता
Transliteration
tataḥ sā bhāratī senā maṇihemavibhūṣitā
Translation
Then that Bharata host—adorned with jewels and gold—stood forth in splendor, its outward magnificence masking the grim moral weight of the battle that was about to unfold.
Word by Word
ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (काल/क्रमवाचक)
साthat (she/that)
सा:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
भारतीof the Bharatas, Bharata-
भारती:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootभारती
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
सेनाarmy
सेना:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootसेना
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
मणि-हेम-विभूषिताadorned with jewels and gold
मणि-हेम-विभूषिता:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootविभूषित (वि + भूष्)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; क्त)
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
B
Bhārata army (bhāratī senā)J
jewels (maṇi)G
gold (hema)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
The verse highlights the contrast between external grandeur (jewels and gold) and the inner gravity of war, inviting reflection on how worldly splendor can accompany—and sometimes conceal—heavy ethical consequences.
Sañjaya describes the Bhārata host as it appears on the battlefield—brilliantly ornamented with precious metals and gems—setting the scene for the ensuing combat in Droṇa Parva.