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

ଧ୍ୱଜ ଓ ବିଚିତ୍ର ଆଭୂଷଣ, ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣମୟ କବଚ, ବୈଜୟନ୍ତୀ ଧ୍ୱଜ-ପତାକା, ଏବଂ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ଆବରଣ ଓ କମ୍ବଳରେ ସେମାନେ ସୁସଜ୍ଜିତ ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

• ध्वजैः: with banners/flags
• ध्वजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आभरणैः: with ornaments
• आभरणैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• चित्रैः: variegated/bright
• चित्रैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• कवचैः: with armours
• कवचैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• हिरण्मयैः: golden (made of gold)
• हिरण्मयैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिरण्मय
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• वैजयन्ती: with the Vaijayantī (victory-banner/garland; here: banner)
• वैजयन्ती: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैजयन्ती
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• पताकाभिः: with pennons/streamers
• पताकाभिः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Plural

• परिस्तोमैः: with coverings/outer wraps (lit. enveloping layers)
• परिस्तोमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिस्तोम
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अद्रिकम्बलैः: with mountain-wool blankets (thick blankets)
• अद्रिकम्बलैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रिकम्बल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• dhvaja (banners/standards)
• kavaca (armor)
• vaijayantī-patākā (victory-flags)
• paristoma (coverlets)
• kambala (blankets)

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.