Shloka 27

Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ

Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response

Devanagari script

ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां धाम सर्वधनुष्मताम्‌ । आदित्यपथग: केतु: पार्थस्यामिततेजस:

Transliteration

kakudaṁ sarvasainyānāṁ dhāma sarvadhanuṣmatām | ādityapathagaḥ ketuḥ pārthasyāmitatejasaḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ସେନାର କକୁଦ, ସମସ୍ତ ଧନୁର୍ଧରଙ୍କର ଦୀପ୍ତ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ଥିଲେ। ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟପଥଗାମୀ କେତୁ ପରି, ଅମିତତେଜସ୍ବୀ ପାର୍ଥ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ନିଜ ପକ୍ଷ ପାଇଁ ଜ୍ୱଳନ୍ତ ଚିହ୍ନ ହୋଇ ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ଥିଲେ।

Word by Word

ककुदम्crest; summit; chief

सर्वसैन्यानाम्of all armies

धामabode; splendor; glory

सर्वधनुष्मताम्of all bowmen

आदित्यपथगःmoving in the sun's path

केतुःbanner; standard; sign

पार्थस्यof Partha (Arjuna)

अमिततेजाःof immeasurable splendor

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sanjaya

Arjuna (Pārtha)

Ketu (banner/standard as emblem)

Āditya (the Sun, as reference to the sun’s path)

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 how righteous leadership in crisis is expressed through visible courage and steadiness: a single exemplary warrior can become a ‘banner’ for an entire force—strengthening morale, unifying purpose, and embodying the martial dharma expected in a dharma-yuddha setting.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sanjaya is describing Arjuna’s stature on the battlefield during the Drona Parva events, portraying him as the foremost among armies and archers—radiant like a celestial sign—whose presence functions as an emblem of confidence for his side.