Mahabharata 9.3.38 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 3, Shloka 38

अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः

Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana

Devanagari script

पारावतसवर्णाश्वं कोविदारवरध्वजम्‌ । धृष्टद्युम्नं रणे दृष्टवा त्वदीया: प्राद्रवन्‌ू भयात्‌

Transliteration

pārāvata-savarṇāśvaṁ kovidāra-vara-dhvajam | dhṛṣṭadyumnam raṇe dṛṣṭvā tvadīyāḥ prādravan bhayāt ||

Translation

Dijo Sañjaya: Al ver a Dhṛṣṭadyumna en el campo de batalla—cuyo carro estaba uncido a caballos del color de las palomas y cuyo excelente estandarte llevaba el emblema del árbol kovidāra (kachanāra)—tus guerreros huyeron presa del miedo.

Word by Word

• पारावतसवर्णाश्वम्: him whose horses are dove-colored
• पारावतसवर्णाश्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारावत-स-वर्ण-अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कोविदारवरध्वजम्: him whose excellent banner bears the kovidāra emblem
• कोविदारवरध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोविदार-वर-ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• धृष्टद्युम्नम्: Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• धृष्टद्युम्नम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टद्युम्न
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• त्वदीयाः: your (men/soldiers)
• त्वदीयाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वदीय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• प्राद्रवन्: ran away / fled
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + द्रु
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• भयात्: from fear
• भयात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय
• Form: Neuter, Ablative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛṣṭadyumna
• Kovidāra (kachanāra) tree emblem
• Chariot banner (dhvaja)
• Dove-colored horses
• Kaurava soldiers (tvadīyāḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical and psychological reality of war: courage is fragile, and the presence of a renowned commander with recognizable insignia can shatter an army’s resolve. It implicitly contrasts the ideal of kṣatriya steadfastness with the human tendency to succumb to fear.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressing the Kaurava side as 'your men') that when Dhṛṣṭadyumna appeared in battle with his distinctive dove-colored horses and kovidāra-emblem banner, the Kaurava troops panicked and fled.