Shloka 173

Droṇa Encircled at Night: Coalition Advance and Battlefield Omens (द्रोणपर्यावरणं रात्रियुद्धवर्णनम्)

Devanagari script

विबभौ सर्वतः श्लिष्टं सविद्युदिव तोयद: । उनका काले लोहेका बना हुआ सुवर्णजटित बहुमूल्य कवच उनके सारे अंगोंमें सटकर बिजलीसहित मेघके समान सुशोभित हो रहा था

Transliteration

vibabhau sarvataḥ śliṣṭaṃ savidyud iva toyadaḥ |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ତାଙ୍କର କବଚ ସମଗ୍ର ଶରୀରରେ ଘନିଷ୍ଠ ଭାବେ ଲଗି ସବୁଦିଗରେ ଏମିତି ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ହେଉଥିଲା, ଯେପରି ବିଦ୍ୟୁତ୍ସହିତ ମେଘ। କଳା ଲୋହାରେ ତିଆରି, ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣଜଟିତ ଏବଂ ବହୁମୂଲ୍ୟ ସେ କବଚ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଙ୍ଗପ୍ରତ୍ୟଙ୍ଗରେ ସଟି ମେଘ-ବିଦ୍ୟୁତ୍ ପରି ଶୋଭା ପାଉଥିଲା।

Word by Word

विबभौshone, appeared splendid

सर्वतःon all sides, everywhere

श्लिष्टम्clinging, closely fitted

सhe/that (one)

विद्युत्with lightning

इवlike, as if

तोयदःcloud (rain-giver)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

armour (kavaca)

rain-cloud (toyada)

lightning (vidyut)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses a vivid simile—armour shining like a lightning-lit cloud—to highlight how martial power and splendour can appear awe-inspiring, yet remain bound to the ethical gravity of warfare and the responsibilities of kṣatriya-dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a warrior’s close-fitting, radiant armour, emphasizing his striking battlefield appearance through the comparison to a thundercloud streaked with lightning.