Shloka 13

अर्जुनस्य प्रतिघातः — श्रुताय्वच्युतायुवधः तथा गजसैन्यविदारणम्

Arjuna’s Counterstroke: Slaying of Śrutāyu and Acyutāyu; Breaking the Elephant Corps

Devanagari script

अलंकृतान्‌ राजमानान्‌ सर्वरत्नैर्मनोहरै:

Transliteration

alaṅkṛtān rājāmānān sarvaratnair manoharaiḥ

Translation

Nārada said: “(They were) adorned and resplendent, made captivating by every kind of delightful jewel.” The line emphasizes the outward splendor—ornamentation and precious gems—that can accompany royal or heroic life, while implicitly inviting reflection on how such brilliance stands in tension with the harsher moral realities of the war narrative.

Word by Word

• अलंकृतान्: adorned, decorated
• अलंकृतान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलंकृत (कृ धातु, उपसर्ग अलम्; क्त प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• राजमानान्: shining, resplendent
• राजमानान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राजमान (राज् धातु, शानच्/मान प्रत्यय)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वरत्नैः: with all gems
• सर्वरत्नैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वरत्न
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• मनोहरैः: charming, delightful
• मनोहरैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• jewels (ratna)
• ornaments/adornments (alaṅkāra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds external magnificence—ornaments and jewels—suggesting a contrast between worldly radiance and the deeper ethical stakes of the epic, where true worth is tested by conduct (dharma) rather than display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing figures (implicitly royal/heroic persons or a scene) as richly adorned and shining with many beautiful jewels, setting a vivid visual tone within the Drona Parva’s war-time narration.