Shloka 51

द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः

Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry

Devanagari script

पज्चालानां नरव्याप्रो यः ख्यातो जनमेजय: । तस्य सर्षपपुष्पाणां तुल्यवर्णा हयोत्तमा:

Transliteration

Pañcālānāṁ naravyāghro yaḥ khyāto Janamejayaḥ | tasya sarṣapapuṣpāṇāṁ tulyavarṇā hayottamāḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「おおジャナメージャヤよ、パンチャーラの中で虎と称えられるその勇士は、芥子の花の色に等しい毛色の優れた馬を持っていた。」

Word by Word

पाञ्चालानाम्of the Panchalas

नरव्याघ्रःtiger among men (best of men)

यःwho

ख्यातःrenowned, famous

जनमेजयःJanamejaya (proper name)

तस्यof him, his

सर्षपपुष्पाणाम्of mustard-flowers

तुल्यवर्णाःof equal color (similar-hued)

हयोत्तमाःexcellent horses

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Janamejaya

Pañcālas

horses (hayāḥ)

mustard blossoms (sarṣapapuṣpāṇi)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how epic narration uses vivid, value-laden imagery—praising excellence (naravyāghra, hayottama) to mark worthy leadership and martial capability, reminding the listener that renown is tied to recognized qualities and deeds.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya continues a battlefield-style description, addressing Janamejaya and depicting a famed Pañcāla hero and his superb horses, whose mustard-blossom color serves as a striking visual detail within the war narrative.