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 dijo: El carro, veloz en su marcha, resplandecía con el fulgor de los rayos del Sol. Su interior estaba engalanado con muchas clases de joyas maravillosas, y ardía como el sol recién nacido. Majestuoso y radiante, se distinguía por un estandarte singular marcado con Garuḍa y por gallardetes que ondeaban: imagen de poder regio y de pronta disposición al servicio de 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.