Shloka 29

Sātyaki-praveśaḥ and Duryodhana-saṃnipātaḥ

Sātyaki’s passage and Duryodhana’s mass engagement

Devanagari script

ध्वजैराभरणैश्षित्रै: कवचैश्न हिरण्मयै: । वैजयन्तीपताकाभि: परिस्तोमाड्रकम्बलै:

Transliteration

dhvajair ābharaṇaiś citraiḥ kavacaiś ca hiraṇmayaiḥ | vaijayantī-patākābhiḥ paristomādrakambalaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya berkata: “Mereka dihiasi dengan panji-panji dan perhiasan yang indah, dengan baju zirah emas; dengan bendera kemenangan dan jalur-jalur kain yang berkibar, serta hamparan dan selimut yang mewah—maka bala tentera itu tampak gemilang, meskipun ia bergerak menuju pembantaian.”

Word by Word

ध्वजैःwith banners/flags

आभरणैःwith ornaments

चित्रैःvariegated/bright

कवचैःwith armours

नnot

हिरण्मयैःgolden (made of gold)

वैजयन्तीwith the Vaijayantī (victory-banner/garland; here: banner)

पताकाभिःwith pennons/streamers

परिस्तोमैःwith coverings/outer wraps (lit. enveloping layers)

अद्रिकम्बलैःwith mountain-wool blankets (thick blankets)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

dhvaja (banners/standards)

kavaca (armor)

vaijayantī-patākā (victory-flags)

paristoma (coverlets)

kambala (blankets)

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 the seductive grandeur of warfare—golden armor and victory-banners can make violence appear glorious. Ethically, it invites reflection on how external splendor can mask the inner reality of suffering and destruction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the battlefield scene and the warriors’ equipment and adornments—banners, flags, golden armor, and rich coverings—emphasizing the impressive, ceremonial appearance of the forces as the conflict intensifies.