Shloka 58

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 114 — Karṇa–Bhīmasena Missile Exchange, Disarmament, and Arjuna’s Intervention

Devanagari script

संवृते केतकैहेंमैर्मणिविद्रुमचित्रितै: । पाण्डुरा भ्रप्रकाशाभि: पताकाभिरलंकृते

Transliteration

saṁvṛte ketakaiḥ hemaiḥ maṇividruma-citritaiḥ | pāṇḍurābhra-prakāśābhiḥ patākābhir alaṅkṛte ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: Kereta itu terselubung hiasan ketaka dari emas, bertatah permata dan karang, serta dihiasi panji-panji yang berkilau laksana awan pucat.

Word by Word

• संवृते: in/when (it was) covered/enclosed
• संवृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संवृत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• केतकैः: with ketaka (screw-pine) flowers
• केतकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• हेमैः: golden
• हेमैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• मणि-विद्रुम-चित्रितैः: variegated/ornamented with gems and coral
• मणि-विद्रुम-चित्रितैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणि-विद्रुम-चित्रित
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पाण्डुराः: pale/whitish
• पाण्डुराः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाण्डुर
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• भ्र-प्रकाशाभिः: with cloud-like radiance/brightness
• भ्र-प्रकाशाभिः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रप्रकाशा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• पताकाभिः: with banners/flags
• पताकाभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• अलंकृते: in/when (it was) adorned
• अलंकृते: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकृत
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• ketaka-ornaments
• gold
• gems (maṇi)
• coral (vidruma)
• banners/flags (patākā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward magnificence—gold, gems, and radiant banners—can coexist with the harsh reality of battle, reminding the listener to distinguish external display from the deeper moral weight of actions in war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a splendidly decorated object in the battlefield setting—covered with golden ornaments, inlaid with gems and coral, and crowned with pale-cloud-like banners—emphasizing its striking appearance amid the ongoing conflict.