Shloka 296

ध्वजवर्णनम् | Dhvaja-varṇanam

Description of War Standards

Devanagari script

धनंजयार्थे समरे पराक्रान्तस्य दारुक । “दारुक! कलके महासमरमें तीनों लोक धनंजयके लिये युद्धमें पराक्रम प्रकट करते हुए मेरे बल और प्रभावको देखें

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | dhanañjayārthe samare parākrāntasya dāruka | “dāruka! kalake mahāsamare trayo lokā dhanañjayāya yuddhe parākramaṃ prakaṭayataḥ mama balaṃ prabhāvaṃ ca paśya” |

Translation

Sañjaya said: “O Dāruka! Behold my strength and splendor as I display valor in this great and dreadful battle, fighting for the sake of Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)—as though the three worlds themselves were mustered for him.”

Word by Word

• धनंजयार्थे: for the sake of Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• धनंजयार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनंजय-अर्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पराक्रान्तस्य: of (one) who has advanced/charged forth valiantly
• पराक्रान्तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराक्रान्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• दारुक: O Dāruka
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारुक
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Dāruka
• Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• the three worlds (trayo lokāḥ)
• the great battle (mahāsamara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of steadfast loyalty: valor is framed as purposeful service—fighting ‘for Dhanañjaya’—and prowess is presented as something to be manifested responsibly in the arena of dharma-driven conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya addresses Dāruka and proclaims that, in the great and fearsome battle, he is displaying extraordinary valor on Arjuna’s behalf, claiming his strength and splendor are such that it seems as if the three worlds are rallied for Arjuna.