Shloka 20

Droṇa’s Defensive Stand and Abhimanyu Commissioned to Breach the Cakravyūha (द्रोणानीक-प्रतिरोधः; सौभद्र-नियोजनम्)

Devanagari script

कर्णदु:शासनकृपैर्वृतो राजा महारथै: । देवराजोपम: श्रीमाञ्छवेतच्छत्राभिसंवृत:,उसके ऊपर श्वेतच्छत्र तना हुआ था। वह कर्ण, दुःशासन तथा कृपाचार्य आदि महारथियोंसे घिरकर देवराज इन्द्रके समान शोभा पा रहा था

Transliteration

karṇa-duḥśāsana-kṛpaiḥ vṛto rājā mahārathaiḥ | devarājopamaḥ śrīmān śvetacchatrābhisaṃvṛtaḥ ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。王はカルナ、ドゥフシャーサナ、そしてクリパら大車戦士に囲まれ、頭上には白き王傘が掲げられていた。ゆえに彼は、神々の主インドラのごとく、燦然と輝いて見えた。

Word by Word

कर्ण-दुःशासन-कृपैःby Karna, Duhshasana, and Kripa

वृतःsurrounded

राजाthe king

महा-रथैःby great chariot-warriors

देव-राज-उपमःlike the king of the gods (Indra)

श्रीमान्splendid, illustrious

श्वेत-छत्र-अभिसंवृतःcovered/overshadowed by a white parasol

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa

Duḥśāsana

Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya)

the king (Duryodhana)

Indra (Devarāja)

white parasol (śvetacchatra)

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 how outward symbols of sovereignty (like the white parasol) and the presence of powerful allies can create an aura of divine majesty; ethically, it invites reflection on the difference between appearance of greatness and the righteousness (dharma) of the cause being served.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the Kaurava king (Duryodhana) being escorted and protected by leading warriors—Karṇa, Duḥśāsana, and Kṛpācārya—while a white parasol is held over him, making him look splendid like Indra on the battlefield.