Shloka 14

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सात्यकि-अलम्बुसयोर्युद्धवर्णनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue; Account of Sātyaki vs Alambusa

Devanagari script

चक्रैविमथितैश्छत्रैर्ध्वजैश्न विनिपातितै: । अनुकर्ष: पताकाभि: शिरस्त्राणै: सकाउ्चनै:

Transliteration

cakrair vimathitaiś chatrair dhvajaiś ca vinipātitaiḥ | anukarṣaḥ patākābhiḥ śirastrāṇaiḥ sa-kauñcanaiḥ ||

Translation

ರಥಚಕ್ರಗಳಿಂದ ನುಚ್ಚುನೂರಾದ ಛತ್ರಗಳು, ಕೆಡವಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಧ್ವಜಗಳು, ಎಳೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಲ್ಪಡುವ ಅನುಕರ್ಷಗಳು, ನೆಲದ ಮೇಲೆ ಎಳೆದು ಹೋಗುವ ಪತಾಕೆಗಳು, ಮತ್ತು ಚಿನ್ನದ ಅಲಂಕಾರಗಳಿರುವ ಶಿರಸ್ತ್ರಾಣಗಳು—ಇವೆಲ್ಲ ಯುದ್ಧಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚದುರಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದವು।

Word by Word

चक्रैःby/with wheels (discus-like weapons)

विमथितैःcrushed, churned, shattered

छत्रैःby/with umbrellas

ध्वजैःby/with banners

नnot

विनिपातितैःfelled, thrown down, made to fall

अनुकर्षःdragging along; trailing

पताकाभिःby/with pennants, streamers

शिरस्त्राणैःby/with head-protectors (helmets)

सwith; together with

काञ्चनैःgolden; made of gold

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

chariot wheels

royal umbrellas (chatra)

standards/flags (dhvaja)

banners (patākā)

helmets (śirastrāṇa)

gold ornaments (kauñcana)

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 underscores the fragility of worldly honor and royal insignia: in war, symbols of sovereignty—umbrellas, standards, banners—are easily destroyed, reminding the listener that status and display are impermanent when adharma and violence prevail.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya paints a vivid battlefield scene: chariot wheels have crushed royal parasols, standards have been knocked down, banners trail along the ground, and helmets with golden fittings lie dragged about—evidence of intense fighting and disorder.