Shloka 4

Devanagari script

नानापताकाकलिलं किड्किणीजालमालिनम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | nānā-patākā-kalilaṃ kiṅkiṇī-jāla-mālinam | śvetāśvāḥ kha iva vimāna-sadṛśaṃ rathaṃ vahanta iva | paśya karṇasya mahāmanasaḥ dhvajaṃ, yatra hastī-raśanā-cihnaṃ dṛśyate |

Translation

Kereta perang itu dipenuhi aneka panji yang berkibar rapat, dan dihiasi jalinan rumbai lonceng-lonceng kecil yang berdenting. Ditarik kuda-kuda putih, ia tampak meluncur di angkasa laksana wimana. Pandanglah panji sang mahatma Karna—bertanda lambang tali pengikat gajah (nāgakakṣa).

Word by Word

• नाना: various, many kinds of
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना
• Form: avyaya (indeclinable)

• पताका: banner, flag
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: feminine, nominative singular (in compound context)

• कलिलम्: crowded, thickly filled
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलिल
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative singular

• नाना-पताका-कलिलम्: crowded with many banners
• नाना-पताका-कलिलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कलिल (with नाना + पताका as qualifiers)
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative singular

• किङ्किणी: small bell
• Type: Noun
• Root: किङ्किणी
• Form: feminine, genitive singular (in compound context)

• जाल: net, mesh; cluster
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative singular (in compound context)

• मालिनम्: garlanded, adorned; having a garland/series
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालिन्
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative singular

• किङ्किणी-जाल-मालिनम्: adorned with a mesh/cluster of small bells
• किङ्किणी-जाल-मालिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मालिन् (with किङ्किणी-जाल as qualifier)
• Form: neuter, nominative/accusative singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sanjaya
• Karna
• chariot (ratha)
• white horses (śvetāśvāḥ)
• banner/standard (patākā/dhvaja)
• tinkling bells (kiṅkiṇī)
• vimāna (celestial car imagery)
• elephant-rope emblem (hastī-raśanā-cihna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how outward splendor—banners, bells, and a striking standard—projects a warrior’s identity and confidence, yet it also heightens the ethical weight of battle: magnificent instruments are still employed in a conflict where dharma is under strain.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya vividly describes Karna’s chariot: many banners flutter, bell-fringes adorn it, white horses seem to carry it like a heavenly vehicle, and Karna’s standard bears the emblem of an elephant’s rope.