Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 53

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

नानावर्णविरागाभि: शुशुभु: सर्वतो वृता: । वे परम शोभासम्पन्न अनेक प्रकारके बहुरंगे ध्वज सब ओरसे नाना रंगकी पताकाओंद्वारा घिरकर बड़ी शोभा पाते थे

Transliteration

nānāvarṇavirāgābhiḥ śuśubhuḥ sarvato vṛtāḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya dijo: Rodeados por todas partes de estandartes y banderolas de muchos colores, teñidos con brillo, se mostraban espléndidos: una exhibición exterior de orden marcial y confianza en medio de la violencia creciente de la guerra.

Word by Word

• नाना-वर्ण-विरागाभिः: by/with multicolored dyes/tints
• नाना-वर्ण-विरागाभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना-वर्ण-विराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• शुशुभुः: shone; were splendid
• शुशुभुः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• सर्वतः: on all sides; everywhere
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)

• वृताः: surrounded; enclosed
• वृताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत (कृदन्त; √वृ 'to cover/surround')
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• dhvaja (banners/standards)
• patākā (streamers/flags)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the contrast between outward splendor and the grim reality of battle: military pageantry (banners, colors, order) can mask the ethical weight of violence, reminding the reader that visible glory is transient and does not by itself confer righteousness (dharma).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a force (or warriors/units) that looks magnificent because it is encircled by many vividly colored banners and streamers on all sides—an image of organized might and morale within the Drona Parva’s war setting.