Shloka 34

Kṛṣṇa’s Dhyāna and the Prompt to Question Bhīṣma (कृष्णध्यानं भीष्मप्रश्नप्रेरणा च)

Devanagari script

दिवाकरांशुप्रभमाशुगामिनं विचित्रनानामणि भूषितान्तरम्‌ । नवोदितं सूर्यमिव प्रतापिनं विचित्रताक्ष्यध्वजिनं पताकिनम्‌

Transliteration

divākarāṃśuprabham āśugāminaṃ vicitranānāmaṇibhūṣitāntaram | navoditaṃ sūryam iva pratāpinaṃ vicitratākṣyadhvajinaṃ patākinam ||

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Kereta yang bergerak pantas itu bersinar dengan keagungan sinar matahari. Bahagian dalamnya dihiasi pelbagai permata yang menakjubkan, dan ia menyala seperti matahari yang baru terbit. Gagah dan bercahaya, ia ditandai dengan panji berukir Garuḍa serta umbul-umbul yang berkibar—lambang kuasa diraja dan kesiapsiagaan yang berarah dalam khidmat kepada Kṛṣṇa.

Word by Word

• दिवाकरांशु-प्रभम्: having the radiance of the sun’s rays
• दिवाकरांशु-प्रभम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिवाकरांशु-प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आशु-गामिनम्: swift-moving
• आशु-गामिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशुगामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विचित्र-नाना-मणि-भूषित-अन्तरम्: whose interior is adorned with various wondrous gems
• विचित्र-नाना-मणि-भूषित-अन्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रनानामणिभूषितान्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• नव-उदितम्: newly risen
• नव-उदितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नवोदित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सूर्यम्: the sun
• सूर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• प्रतापिनम्: splendid, mighty
• प्रतापिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विचित्र-ताक्ष्य-ध्वजिनम्: bearing a banner with a wondrous Garuḍa emblem
• विचित्र-ताक्ष्य-ध्वजिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्रताक्ष्यध्वजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पताकिनम्: having pennants/streamers
• पताकिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पताकिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Sūrya (the Sun)
• Garuḍa (Tākṣya)
• chariot (ratha)
• banner/standard (dhvaja)
• pennants/flags (patākā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined readiness and purposeful excellence: power and beauty (a radiant, well-appointed chariot) are presented as instruments meant for rightful service and duty, not mere display.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana describes a swift, jewel-adorned chariot blazing like the newly risen sun, marked by a Garuḍa-banner and pennants—an emblem of royal might and immediate preparedness.