Shloka 45

द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः

Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry

Devanagari script

बभ्रकौशेयवर्णसस्तु सुवर्णवरमालिन: । ऊहुरम्लानमनसश्रेकितानं हयोत्तमा:,नेवले तथा रेशमके समान रंगवाले (पिंगल-गौर-वर्णके) उत्तम अश्व, जो सुन्दर सुवर्णकी मालासे विभूषित तथा प्रसन्नचित्तवाले थे, चेकितानको युद्धस्थलमें ले गये

Transliteration

babhrau kauśeyavarṇās tu suvarṇavaramālinaḥ | ūhur amlānamanasaś cekitānaṃ hayottamāḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya said: The finest horses—brownish, with a sheen like silk, adorned with excellent golden garlands, and spirited and unwearied in mind—carried Cekitāna onto the battlefield.

Word by Word

बभ्रकौशेयवर्णसःhaving the color of tawny silk

तुbut/indeed

सुवर्णवरमालिनःadorned with excellent golden garlands

ऊहुःcarried/bore

अम्लानमनसःwith un-faded (cheerful) minds

चेकितानम्Cekitāna (proper name)

हयोत्तमाःexcellent horses

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Cekitāna

horses (hayottamāḥ)

golden garlands (suvarṇavaramālā)

battlefield

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?

In the context of dharma-yuddha, the verse highlights preparedness and steadfastness: the warrior’s entry is supported by disciplined resources (well-trained horses) and an unwearied resolve (amlānamanas), suggesting that duty in war requires both auspicious order and inner firmness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Cekitāna being conveyed into the battle by excellent, silk-hued, tawny horses adorned with golden garlands, emphasizing the momentum and ceremonial martial splendor of his advance.