Shloka 16

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — इरावान्-आवन्त्ययोः युद्धम्, घटोत्कच-भगदत्त-संघर्षः, मद्रेश्वर-विक्षेपः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Irāvān vs the Avanti princes; Ghaṭotkaca vs Bhagadatta; Śalya checked by the Mādrī twins

Devanagari script

ध्वजभूषणसम्बाधं रत्नपट्टसुसंचितम्‌ । परिधावद्धिरश्रैश्न वायुवेगविकम्पितम्‌

Transliteration

dhvajabhūṣaṇasambādhaṁ ratnapaṭṭasusañcitam | paridhāvaddhirāśraiś ca vāyuvegavikampitam ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Panji kereta itu, padat oleh perhiasan dan dihiasi pita-pita bertatah permata, terguncang oleh hembusan angin ketika kuda-kuda yang tangkas berlari mengitarinya.

Word by Word

• ध्वज: banner/flag
• ध्वज: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• भूषण: ornament
• भूषण: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), —

• सम्बाधम्: crowded/packed (with)
• सम्बाधम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्बाध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• रत्न: jewel
• रत्न: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रत्न
• Form: Neuter, Stem (in compound), —

• पट्ट: band/strip (ornamental band)
• पट्ट: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट्ट
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• सुसंचितम्: well-adorned/beautifully set
• सुसंचितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-संचित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• परिधावद्भिः: by (those) running around / rushing about
• परिधावद्भिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-धाव्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्वैः: by horses
• अश्वैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वायु: wind
• वायु: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• वेग: speed/force
• वेग: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: Masculine, Stem (in compound), —

• विकम्पितम्: shaken/trembling
• विकम्पितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-कम्पित
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• dhvaja (chariot-banner/standard)
• aśvāḥ (horses)
• vāyu (wind)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse implicitly contrasts external grandeur (ornamented banner, jewels) with the unstable, force-driven reality of war (wind, rushing horses). It suggests the fragility of worldly display amid conflict and the ethical unease that accompanies martial splendor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates a vivid battlefield scene: a richly decorated chariot-standard is buffeted by wind as fast-moving horses surge around, emphasizing speed, power, and the charged atmosphere of the combat setting.