Shloka 58
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 114 — Karṇa–Bhīmasena Missile Exchange, Disarmament, and Arjuna’s Intervention
संवृते केतकैहेंमैर्मणिविद्रुमचित्रितै: । पाण्डुरा भ्रप्रकाशाभि: पताकाभिरलंकृते
saṁvṛte ketakaiḥ hemaiḥ maṇividruma-citritaiḥ | pāṇḍurābhra-prakāśābhiḥ patākābhir alaṅkṛte ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Kereta itu diselubungi hiasan ketaka daripada emas, disadur dengan permata dan karang, serta dihiasi panji-panji yang berkilau laksana awan pucat—suatu citra kemegahan diraja di tengah tugas perang yang keras.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward magnificence—gold, gems, and radiant banners—can coexist with the harsh reality of battle, reminding the listener to distinguish external display from the deeper moral weight of actions in war.
Sañjaya is describing a splendidly decorated object in the battlefield setting—covered with golden ornaments, inlaid with gems and coral, and crowned with pale-cloud-like banners—emphasizing its striking appearance amid the ongoing conflict.