Shloka 27

Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection

Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa

Devanagari script

उद्धृूतलाडूलमहापताक- ध्वजोत्तमांसाकुलभीषणान्तम्‌ । गाण्डीवनिर्हादकृतप्रणाद॑ किरीडिनं प्रेक्ष्य ननाद कर्ण:

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

uddhṛta-lāṅgūla-mahā-patākā-dhvajottamāṃsākula-bhīṣaṇāntam |

gāṇḍīva-nirghāda-kṛta-praṇādaṃ kirīṭinaṃ prekṣya nanāda karṇaḥ ||

Translation

ଅର୍ଜୁନଙ୍କ ରଥର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ଧ୍ୱଜରେ ଉଦ୍ଧୃତ ବାନରପୁଛ ମହାପତାକା ପରି ଲହରାଉଥିଲା; ଅଗ୍ରଭାଗ କୋଳାହଳରେ ଭୟାନକ ଲାଗୁଥିଲା; ଏବଂ ଗାଣ୍ଡୀବର ଟଙ୍କାର ବଜ୍ରଗର୍ଜନ ପରି ଗୁଞ୍ଜୁଥିଲା। ଏମିତି କିରୀଟଧାରୀ ଅର୍ଜୁନଙ୍କୁ ଦେଖି କର୍ଣ୍ଣ ପୁନଃପୁନଃ ସିଂହନାଦ କଲେ।

Word by Word

• उद्धूत: shaken, waved
• उद्धूत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-धू (धातु) → उद्धूत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• लाङ्गूल: tail
• लाङ्गूल: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गूल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• महापताक: great banner/standard
• महापताक: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महापताका
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ध्वज: banner, flagstaff
• ध्वज: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उत्तम: excellent, foremost
• उत्तम: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अंस: shoulder, upper part
• अंस: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंस
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• आकुल: filled with, crowded
• आकुल: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकुल
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भीषण: terrible, dreadful
• भीषण: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्तम्: end, extremity, tip
• अन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गाण्डीव: of (the bow) Gāṇḍīva
• गाण्डीव: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाण्डीव
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• निर्हाद: by the reverberation/twang
• निर्हाद: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्हाद
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• कृत: made, produced
• कृत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रणादम्: roar, loud sound
• प्रणादम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• किरीडिनम्: the diadem-wearer (Arjuna)
• किरीडिनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीडिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रेक्ष्य: having seen, looking at
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ईक्ष् (धातु) → प्रेक्ष्य (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• ननाद: roared, sounded
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• कर्णः: Karna
• कर्णः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Arjuna (Kirīṭin)
• Karna
• Gāṇḍīva (bow)
• Chariot-banner/standard (dhvaja, patākā)
• Monkey emblem/tail (Hanūmat-dhvaja implied)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how martial symbols—banner, bow-sound, and lion-roar—are used to project courage and unsettle opponents; ethically, it also warns that such displays can intensify ego and rivalry, accelerating the descent into violence when dharma is already strained.

What is happening in the narrative?

Arjuna appears with his formidable chariot-banner (with the monkey emblem) and the thunderous reverberation of the Gāṇḍīva; upon seeing him, Karna responds with repeated lion-like roars, signaling challenge and the escalation toward battle.