Shloka 183

Droṇa Encircled at Night: Coalition Advance and Battlefield Omens (द्रोणपर्यावरणं रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

कण्ठत्राणेन च बभौ सेन्द्रायुध इवाम्बुद: । लाल, पीले, काले और सफेद वस्त्रोंस अपने शरीरको सुसज्जित करके कण्ठत्राण पहनकर वे इन्द्रधनुषयुक्त मेघके समान शोभा पा रहे थे

Transliteration

kaṇṭhatrāṇena ca babhau sendrāyudha ivāmbudaḥ |

Translation

Sanjaya berkata: Dengan pelindung leher terpasang, ia tampak laksana awan yang dihiasi pelangi Indra. Tubuhnya ditata dengan kain merah, kuning, hitam, dan putih; mengenakan pelindung leher, ia bersinar seperti mendung yang berhiaskan Indrayudha.

Word by Word

कण्ठत्राणेनwith a neck-guard/armor

चand

बभौshone/appeared splendid

सेन्द्रायुधःhaving Indra's weapon (i.e., a rainbow)

इवlike/as if

अम्बुदःcloud

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Indra

Indra’s bow (rainbow)

cloud

neck-guard (kaṇṭhatrāṇa)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it underscores disciplined preparedness (protective armor) and the paradox of beauty amid conflict, reminding readers that outward splendor in war does not erase the ethical gravity of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior’s appearance on the battlefield: wearing a neck-guard and multicolored attire, he looks like a raincloud lit with a rainbow, emphasizing his striking presence and readiness for combat.