Shloka 13

भीमसेन-दुर्योधन-समागमः

Bhīmasena–Duryodhana Engagement at Sunset

Devanagari script

ध्वजिनो हेमचित्राड़ा विचरन्तो रणाजिरे । सपताका रथा रेजुर्वेयापत्रपरिवारणा:,जिनपर ध्वजा और पताकाएँ फहरा रही थीं, जिनका एक-एक अवयव सुवर्णभूषित हो विचित्र शोभा धारण करता था तथा जिनपर व्याप्रके चर्मका आवरण पड़ा हुआ था, ऐसे अनेक रथ उस समरांगणमें विचरते हुए शोभा पा रहे थे। समरमें एक-दूसरेसे भिड़कर परस्पर विजय पानेकी इच्छावाले शूरवीर सिंहके समान गर्जना कर रहे थे और उनका वह तुमुल नाद सब ओर गूँज रहा था

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

dhvajino hemacitrāḍhyā vicaranto raṇājire |

sapatākā rathā rejur vyāghrapatra-parivāraṇāḥ ||

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。戦場では戦車が行き交い、旗幟と旌旗を翻し、精緻な金細工で飾られ、虎皮を覆いとしていた。かくして戦のただ中に輝き、勝利を争う武人の烈しい決意とともにある武威の華やぎを示していた。

Word by Word

ध्वजिनःbearing banners

हेमचित्राङ्गाःwhose parts are ornamented with variegated gold

विचरन्तःmoving about, roaming

रणाजिरेin the battlefield (battle-court/arena)

सपताकाःwith pennants/flags

रथाःchariots

रेजुःshone, were resplendent

वेयापत्रपरिवारणाःcovered with tiger-skin coverings (as housings)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

chariots (rathāḥ)

banners/standards (dhvaja)

flags/pennons (patākāḥ)

gold ornamentation (hema-alaṅkāra)

tiger-skin coverings (vyāghrapatra)

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 does not offer a direct doctrinal injunction; it frames the ethical atmosphere of war by highlighting how outward splendor (gold, banners, prestigious coverings) accompanies inner resolve for victory. It implicitly contrasts the glamour of martial display with the grave reality of conflict, a recurring Mahābhārata theme about the costs and ambiguity of kṣatriya duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the scene on the battlefield: many chariots, bannered and flag-bearing, richly decorated with gold and covered with tiger-skins, are moving about and shining in the combat arena as the armies maneuver for engagement.