Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 17

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

तेन तस्य रथो भाति मयूरेण महात्मन:

Transliteration

tena tasya ratho bhāti mayūreṇa mahātmanaḥ

Translation

សញ្ជ័យបាននិយាយថា៖ «ដោយសញ្ញា​មយូរ​នោះ រថ​របស់​វីរបុរស​ចិត្តធំ​នោះ រុងរឿងភ្លឺចែងចាំង—លេចធ្លោ និងភ្លឺរលោង​កណ្ដាល​ភាពចលាចល​នៃសមរភូមិ ជាសញ្ញាបង្ហាញ​វត្តមាន និងឋានៈ​របស់គាត់»។

Word by Word

• तेन: by that (with it)
• तेन: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• तस्य: of him / his
• तस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• रथः: chariot
• रथः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भाति: shines
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा
• Form: Present (Lat), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• मयूरेण: with a peacock (emblem/ornament)
• मयूरेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयूर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (one)
• महात्मनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• ratha (chariot)
• mayūra (peacock emblem/ornament)
• mahātmā (the great-souled warrior, unspecified in this pāda)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward signs—such as an emblem on a chariot—function as markers of identity and reputation in war. Ethically, it underscores that a warrior’s standing (mahātmā) is recognized not only by deeds but also by the visible symbols that announce leadership and presence amid chaos.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a battlefield scene to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, noting that a particular great warrior’s chariot is visibly radiant because it bears a peacock emblem/ornament, making it stand out among the forces.