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Shloka 1

Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

#::73:.8 #::3:.:7 () हि 2 7 सप्तत्रिशो5्ध्याय: बृहन्नलाको सारथि बनाकर राजकुमार उत्तरका रणभूमिकी ओर प्रस्थान वैशम्पायन उवाच सा प्राद्रवत्‌ काउ्चनमाल्यधारिणी ज्येष्ेन क्रात्रा प्रहिता यशस्विनी । सुदक्षिणा वेदिविलग्नमध्या सा पद्मपत्राभनिभा शिखण्डिनी,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! कुमारी उत्तरा सोनेकी माला और मोरपंखका शृंगार धारण किये हुए थी। उसकी अंगकान्ति कमलदलकी-सी आभावाली लक्ष्मीको भी लज्जित कर रही थी। उसकी कमर यज्ञकी वेदीके समान सूक्ष्म थी। शरीरसे भी वह पतली ही थी। उसके सभी अंग शुभ लक्षणोंसे युक्त थे। उसने कटिप्रदेशमें मणियोंकी बनी हुई विचित्र करधनी पहन रखी थी। मत्स्यराजकी वह यशस्विनी कन्या अनुपम शोभासे प्रकाशित हो रही थी। बड़ोंकी आज्ञा माननेवाली कुमारी उत्तरा बड़े भाईके भेजनेसे बड़ी उतावलीके साथ नृत्यशालामें गयी; मानो चपला मेघ-मालामें विलीन हो गयी हो। उसके नेत्रोंकी टेढ़ी-टेढी बरौनियाँ बड़ी भली मालूम होती थीं

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | sā prādravat kāñcanamālyadhāriṇī jyeṣṭhena bhrātrā prahitā yaśasvinī | sudakṣiṇā vedivilagnamadhyā sā padmapatrābhanibhā śikhaṇḍinī ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: O Janamejaya, sent by her elder brother, the illustrious maiden Uttarā hurried forth wearing a golden garland. Auspicious in every feature, slender-waisted as though her middle were fastened to a sacrificial altar, and radiant like a lotus petal, she moved swiftly—hair and ornaments in place—toward the hall of dance, her modest obedience befitting a princess even as war drew near.

Word by Word

वैशम्पायनःVaishampayana

उवाचsaid

साshe

प्राद्रवत्ran forth

काञ्चनमाल्यधारिणीwearing a golden garland

ज्येष्ठेनby the elder (one)

भ्रात्राby (her) brother

प्रहिताsent/commissioned

यशस्विनीglorious, renowned

सुदक्षिणाvery auspicious/beautiful

वेदिविलग्नमध्याwhose waist is like (or clings to) the sacrificial altar (i.e., very slender-waisted)

साshe

पद्मपत्राभनिभाhaving the luster like lotus-petals

शिखण्डिनीcrested/ornamented (maiden); one wearing a plume/crest

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Uttarā (princess of Matsya)

elder brother (Uttara Kumāra, implied by context)

golden garland (kāñcanamālya)

vedi (sacrificial altar/platform)

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?

The verse foregrounds royal dharma in everyday conduct: even amid looming conflict, a princess is portrayed as auspicious, modest, and obedient to family authority. Ethical emphasis falls on decorum, self-restraint, and responsiveness to rightful instruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Uttarā, the Matsya princess, is sent by her elder brother and hastens out, described in poetic detail—her ornaments, slender waist, and lotus-like radiance—setting the scene for the ensuing events in which the royal household moves toward the crisis on the battlefield.