Shloka 3

ध्वजवर्णनम् | Dhvaja-varṇanam

Description of War Standards

Devanagari script

संतस्तार शुभां शय्यां दर्भवैदूर्यसंनिभै: । ततो माल्येन विधिवल्लाजैर्गन्धै: सुमज्रलै: २ ।। अलंचकार तां शय्यां परिवार्यायुधोत्तमै: । ततः स्पृष्टोदके पार्थे विनीता: परिचारका:

Transliteration

saṃstastāra śubhāṃ śayyāṃ darbhavaidūryasaṃnibhaiḥ | tato mālyena vidhivallājairgandhaiḥ sumañjalaiḥ || alaṃcakāra tāṃ śayyāṃ parivāryāyudhoत्तamaiḥ | tataḥ spṛṣṭodake pārthe vinītāḥ paricārakāḥ ||

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ସେମାନେ ଦର୍ଭଘାସ ଓ ବୈଦୂର୍ୟମଣି ପରି ଦୀପ୍ତିମୟ ଏକ ଶୁଭ ଶୟ୍ୟା ପାତିଲେ। ପରେ ବିଧିପୂର୍ବକ ପୁଷ୍ପମାଳା ଓ ଉତ୍ତମ ସୁଗନ୍ଧ ଦ୍ରବ୍ୟର ସୁନ୍ଦର ଗୁଛରେ ସେଇ ଶୟ୍ୟାକୁ ଅଲଙ୍କୃତ କଲେ। ଚାରିପାଖେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଆୟୁଧ ରଖି ତାହାର ଶୋଭା ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କଲେ। ତାପରେ ପାର୍ଥ ଜଳସ୍ପର୍ଶରେ ଶୁଦ୍ଧ ହେଲେ, ବିନୀତ ପରିଚାରକମାନେ ସେବା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ହୋଇ ଦାଁଡ଼ି ରହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• सन्तः: the attendants/good men
• सन्तः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• शुभाम्: auspicious, beautiful
• शुभाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• शय्याम्: bed, couch
• शय्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• दर्भ-वैदूर्य-संनिभैः: with (things) resembling darbha and vaidūrya (cat's-eye gem)
• दर्भ-वैदूर्य-संनिभैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्भवैदूर्यसंनिभ
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• माल्येन: with garlands
• माल्येन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: माल्य
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• विधिवत्: according to rule, duly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत्

• लाजैः: with parched grains (lāja)
• लाजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• गन्धैः: with fragrances, perfumes
• गन्धैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्ध
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सुमञ्जुलैः: very pleasant
• सुमञ्जुलैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमञ्जुल
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अलञ्चकार: adorned, decorated
• Type: Verb
• Root: अलङ्कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ताम्: that (bed)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• शय्याम्: bed, couch
• शय्याम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शय्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• परिवार्य: having surrounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + वृत्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada

• आयुध-उत्तमैः: with excellent weapons
• आयुध-उत्तमैः: Karana
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: आयुधोत्तम
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• स्पृष्ट-उदके: when the water had been touched (ritually purified)
• स्पृष्ट-उदके: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पृष्टोदक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• पार्थे: when/while Pārtha (Arjuna) (was present / in the case of Pārtha)
• पार्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• विनीताḥ: trained, well-disciplined
• विनीताḥ: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + नी
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• परिचारकाः: attendant women, servants
• परिचारकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परिचारक
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Pārtha (Arjuna)
• śayyā (couch/bed)
• darbha grass
• vaidūrya (cat’s-eye gem)
• mālya (garlands)
• gandha (perfumes)
• āyudha (weapons)
• udaka (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in a battlefield setting, conduct is expected to remain ordered and respectful: ritual cleanliness (spṛṣṭodaka), disciplined service (vinītāḥ paricārakāḥ), and proper procedure (vidhivat) reflect a dharmic ideal of self-control and reverence amid violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Attendants prepare and ornament a splendid couch—spreading it, decorating it with garlands and perfumes, and placing excellent weapons around it. After Pārtha (Arjuna) performs a water-touch purification, the trained attendants stand ready to serve.