Shloka 31

Devanagari script

कर्णिकारध्वजं चैव सिंहकेतुररिंदम: । प्रत्युज्जगाम सौभद्रं राजपुत्रो बृहद्धलः,कर्णिकारके चिह्नसे युक्त ध्वजवाले सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युपर सिंहचिह्वलित ध्वजावाले शत्रुदमन राजकुमार बृहद्वलने आक्रमण किया

Transliteration

karṇikāradhvajaṃ caiva siṃhaketurarindamaḥ | pratyujjagāma saubhadraṃ rājaputro bṛhaddhalaḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。敵を屈する王子ブリハッダラは、カールニカーラの花を標し獅子の徽を掲げた旗を携え、サウバドラ（アビマンニュ）に対峙すべく進み出た。戦の道義の気配の中で、これは名高き戦士同士の避けがたい激突を描く――個の武勇と陣営への忠誠が、クシャトリヤの法（ダルマ）の大いなる要請のもとで試されるのである。

Word by Word

कर्णिकारध्वजम्him whose banner bore the karnikāra (golden-flower) emblem

चand

एवindeed/just

सिंहकेतुम्him whose banner bore a lion-emblem

अरिंदमःenemy-subduing (one)

प्रत्युज्जगामwent forth to meet/advanced against

सौभद्रम्the son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu)

राजपुत्रःthe prince

बृहद्धलःBṛhaddhala (proper name)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Bṛhaddhala

Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)

karṇikāra-dhvaja (banner with karṇikāra emblem)

siṃha-ketu (lion-emblem/banner)

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 highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: warriors, bound by allegiance and duty, meet in direct combat. It underscores how personal courage and reputation operate within the larger ethical burden of war, where each side pursues its perceived obligation despite tragic consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava prince Bṛhaddhala, identifiable by his karṇikāra-marked banner and lion emblem, advances to engage Saubhadra—Abhimanyu—signaling a direct confrontation between notable fighters on the battlefield.