Shloka 3

अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः

Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon

Devanagari script

अजुन उवाच यत्रैषा काज्चनी वेदी ध्वजे यस्य प्रकाशते । उच्छिता प्रवरे दण्डे पताकाभिरलड्कृता । अत्र मां वह भद्ठ ते द्रोणानीकाय सारथे,अर्जुनने कहा--सारथे! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। जिस रथकी ध्वजामें ऊँचे डंडेके ऊपर पताकाओंसे विभूषित यह ऊँची सुवर्णमयी वेदी प्रकाशित हो रही है, वहाँ आचार्य द्रोणकी सेना है। मुझे वहीं ले चलो

Transliteration

arjuna uvāca | yatraiṣā kāñcanī vedī dhvaje yasya prakāśate | ucchritā pravare daṇḍe patākābhir alaṅkṛtā | atra māṃ vaha bhadra te droṇānīkāya sārathe ||

Translation

അർജുനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—“സാരഥേ, നിനക്ക് മംഗളം. ഏത് രഥത്തിന്റെ ധ്വജത്തിൽ ഉത്തമ ദണ്ഡത്തിന്റെ മുകളിൽ പതാകകളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ട ഈ ഉയർന്ന സ്വർണ്ണവേദി പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നുവോ, അവിടെയാണ് ദ്രോണാചാര്യന്റെ സേനാവിഭാഗം. എന്നെ അവിടേക്ക് കൊണ്ടുപോ.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'arjuna uvāca', 'definition': 'Arjuna said'}, {'term': 'yatra', 'definition': 'where'}, {'term': 'eṣā', 'definition': 'this (feminine demonstrative)'}, {'term': 'kāñcanī', 'definition': 'golden, made of gold'}, {'term': 'vedī', 'definition': 'platform/altar-like raised base

• here, a prominent emblem on the banner'}, {'term': 'dhvaje', 'definition': 'on the banner/standard'}, {'term': 'yasya', 'definition': 'of which/whose'}, {'term': 'prakāśate', 'definition': 'shines, is visible, appears radiant'}, {'term': 'ucchritā', 'definition': 'raised up, elevated'}, {'term': 'pravare', 'definition': 'excellent, foremost'}, {'term': 'daṇḍe', 'definition': 'staff, pole (of the banner)'}, {'term': 'patākābhiḥ', 'definition': 'with flags/streamers'}, {'term': 'alaṅkṛtā', 'definition': 'adorned, decorated'}, {'term': 'atra', 'definition': 'here, to this place'}, {'term': 'mām', 'definition': 'me'}, {'term': 'vaha', 'definition': 'carry, drive (the chariot)'}, {'term': 'bhadra te', 'definition': 'good be to you

• may you be blessed/well'}, {'term': 'droṇānīkāya', 'definition': 'to Droṇa’s military division/array'}, {'term': 'sārathe', 'definition': 'O charioteer'}]

Speaker

अजुन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Arjuna
• Sārathi (charioteer)
• Droṇa
• Droṇa’s army division (Droṇānīka)
• Dhvaja (banner/standard)
• Daṇḍa (banner-pole)
• Patākā (streamers/flags)
• Kāñcanī vedī (golden platform/emblem on the banner)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a tense martial setting, Arjuna speaks with restraint and auspicious courtesy (“bhadra te”) while giving precise directions. The verse highlights disciplined conduct and clarity of purpose—ethical self-control alongside strategic action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna identifies Droṇa’s position by the distinctive banner-mark—an elevated, shining golden emblem adorned with streamers—and instructs his charioteer to drive him toward Droṇa’s battle-division.