Shloka 183

Devanagari script

विशेषत: कौरवाणां ध्वजिन्यामतिदारुणा: । विशेषत: कौरव-सेनामें महान्‌ भयकी सूचना देनेवाले अत्यन्त दारुण उल्लू पक्षी भी दिखायी दे रहे थे

Transliteration

viśeṣataḥ kauravāṇāṃ dhvajinyām atidāruṇāḥ | viśeṣataḥ kaurava-senāyāṃ mahān bhaya-sūcanā-dāyakā atyanta-dāruṇā ulūka-pakṣiṇo 'pi dṛśyante |

Translation

Sañjaya said: In particular, within the Kauravas’ battle-array, there appeared exceedingly dreadful omens. Most notably, in the Kaurava army, harsh and terrifying owls—portents that signal great fear—were seen, foreshadowing calamity and moral collapse amid the violence of war.

Word by Word

• विशेषतः: especially
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतस्

• कौरवाणाम्: of the Kauravas
• कौरवाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ध्वजिन्याम्: in the army
• ध्वजिन्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वजिनी
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• अतिदारुणाः: very dreadful
• अतिदारुणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतिदारुण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kauravas
• Kaurava army (dhvajinī/senā)
• Owls (ulūka-pakṣiṇaḥ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how adharma-driven conflict is accompanied by ominous signs: fear and foreboding arise not merely from military danger but from the moral disorder of war, suggesting that unethical action carries its own warnings and consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that especially in the Kaurava ranks dreadful omens are visible—specifically terrifying owls—traditionally read as signs of impending disaster and panic for that side.