Shloka 34

Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)

Devanagari script

दिवाकरांशुप्रभमाशुगामिनं विचित्रनानामणि भूषितान्तरम्‌ । नवोदितं सूर्यमिव प्रतापिनं विचित्रताक्ष्यध्वजिनं पताकिनम्‌

Transliteration

divākarāṃśuprabham āśugāminaṃ vicitranānāmaṇibhūṣitāntaram | navoditaṃ sūryam iva pratāpinaṃ vicitratākṣyadhvajinaṃ patākinam ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The swift-moving chariot shone with the splendor of the Sun’s rays. Its interior was adorned with many kinds of wondrous jewels, and it blazed like the newly risen sun. Majestic and radiant, it was distinguished by a striking banner marked with Garuḍa and by fluttering pennants—an image of royal power and purposeful readiness in the service of Kṛṣṇa.

Word by Word

• दिवाकरांशु-प्रभम्: having the radiance of the sun’s rays
• दिवाकरांशु-प्रभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिवाकरांशु-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आशु-गामिनम्: swift-moving
• आशु-गामिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशुगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विचित्र-नाना-मणि-भूषित-अन्तरम्: whose interior is adorned with various wondrous gems
• विचित्र-नाना-मणि-भूषित-अन्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रनानामणिभूषितान्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नव-उदितम्: newly risen
• नव-उदितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवोदित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सूर्यम्: the sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• प्रतापिनम्: splendid, mighty
• प्रतापिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विचित्र-ताक्ष्य-ध्वजिनम्: bearing a banner with a wondrous Garuḍa emblem
• विचित्र-ताक्ष्य-ध्वजिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रताक्ष्यध्वजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पताकिनम्: having pennants/streamers
• पताकिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पताकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Sūrya (the Sun)
• Garuḍa (Tākṣya)
• chariot (ratha)
• banner/standard (dhvaja)
• pennants/flags (patākā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined readiness and purposeful excellence: power and beauty (a radiant, well-appointed chariot) are presented as instruments meant for rightful service and duty, not mere display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a swift, jewel-adorned chariot blazing like the newly risen sun, marked by a Garuḍa-banner and pennants—an emblem of royal might and immediate preparedness.