Shloka 40

द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः

Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute

Devanagari script

रौद्रेण चित्रपक्षेण विवृताक्षेण कूजता । ध्वजेनोच्छितदण्डेन गृध्रराजेन राजता

Transliteration

raudreṇa citrapakṣeṇa vivṛtākṣeṇa kūjatā | dhvajenocchitadaṇḍena gṛdhrarājena rājatā

Translation

ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ—ਉੱਚੇ ਡੰਡੇ ਉੱਤੇ ਚੜ੍ਹੇ ਧੁਜ ਨਾਲ ਉਹ ਰਥ ਚਮਕ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ; ਉਸ ਧੁਜ ਉੱਤੇ ਰੌਦ੍ਰ ਸੁਭਾਵ ਵਾਲਾ, ਰੰਗ-ਬਿਰੰਗੇ ਪਰਾਂ ਵਾਲਾ, ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੀਆਂ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਕੂਕਦਾ ਗਿਧਾਂ ਦਾ ਰਾਜਾ ਸ਼ੋਭਾ ਪਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ।

Word by Word

रौद्रेणwith/through a fierce (one)

चित्रपक्षेणwith the variegated-winged (bird)

विवृताक्षेणwith (one) having wide-open eyes

कूजताwith (one) crying/cawing

ध्वजेनwith a banner/standard

उच्छितदण्डेनwith an upraised staff/pole

गृध्रराजेनwith the king of vultures

राजताwith (one) shining/being splendid

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

dhvaja (banner/standard)

gṛdhra-rāja (lord of vultures; vulture emblem)

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 underscores how symbols and omens on the battlefield amplify moral and psychological pressure: the fierce vulture-emblem suggests death’s presence and the grim consequences of adharma-driven conflict, reminding listeners that war’s ‘splendor’ is inseparable from भय (fear) and विनाश (destruction).

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a war-standard: a banner mounted on a high staff, marked by a terrifying, loudly crying, wide-eyed ‘king of vultures.’ The image functions as a vivid battlefield detail and an ominous sign, heightening the scene’s intensity.