Shloka 126

Saṃjaya’s Warning to Dhṛtarāṣṭra: Accountability, Alliance-Shift, and the Pāṇḍava Strategic Edge

Devanagari script

वानरो रोचमानश्न केतुः केतुमतां वर: । बाण चलानेवाले वीरोंमें अर्जुन श्रेष्ठ हैं

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | vānaro rocamānaś ca ketuḥ ketumatāṃ varaḥ |

Translation

ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ବାନରଚିହ୍ନିତ ସେଇ ଧ୍ୱଜ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ, ସମସ୍ତ କେତୁମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ। ବାଣଚାଳକ ବୀରମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଅର୍ଜୁନ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ଧନୁଷମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଗାଣ୍ଡୀବ ଉତ୍ତମ; ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଭଗବାନ୍ ଶ୍ରୀକୃଷ୍ଣ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, ଆୟୁଧମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ସୁଦର୍ଶନଚକ୍ର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ; ଏବଂ ପତାକାଧାରୀ ଧ୍ୱଜମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବାନରଚିହ୍ନିତ ଧ୍ୱଜଟିଏ ହିଁ ସର୍ବଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ହୋଇ ଜ୍ୟୋତିର୍ମୟ।

Word by Word

• वानरः: monkey (Hanuman)
• वानरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रोचमानः: shining, resplendent
• रोचमानः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुच्
• Form: शानच् (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• केतुः: banner, standard
• केतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• केतुमताम्: of those having banners (standard-bearers)
• केतुमताम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केतुमत्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• वरः: best, excellent
• वरः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Arjuna (implied by the monkey-banner)
• Hanumān (implied by the monkey emblem)
• Ketu (banner/standard as an object)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Righteous strength is not merely technical prowess; it is also sustained by auspicious signs and devotional associations that steady the mind and inspire courage. The radiant monkey-banner symbolizes moral confidence and divine support aligned with dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing and praising the foremost standards among banners, highlighting the radiant monkey-emblem banner associated with Arjuna—an omen-like affirmation of the Pandava side’s formidable and auspicious preparedness for the coming conflict.