Mahabharata 7.150.52 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 150, Shloka 52

धृतराष्ट्र–संजय संवादः: कर्ण–घटोत्कचयोर्निशायुद्धवर्णनम्

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Description of the Night Engagement of Karṇa and Ghaṭotkaca

Devanagari script

गन्धर्वनगराकारान्‌ रथांश्व निहतेश्वरान्‌ । छिन्नध्वजपताकाक्षान्‌ विचक्रान्‌ हतसारथीन्‌

Transliteration

gandharvanagarākārān rathāśvān nihatēśvarān | chinnadhvajapatākākṣān vicakrān hatasārathīn ||

Translation

Шри Кришна сказал: «Взгляни на эти колесницы и коней — ныне они подобны призрачному великолепию города гандхарвов, ибо их хозяева убиты. Их стяги и вымпелы срублены, оси разбиты, колёса уничтожены, и возничие сражены. Так горделивые орудия войны, некогда богато украшенные, лежат безжизненно, обнажая хрупкость ратной славы и страшную цену насилия.»

Word by Word

• गन्धर्वनगराकारान्: having the appearance of a Gandharva-city (illusory city)
• गन्धर्वनगराकारान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गन्धर्वनगराकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रथान्: chariots
• रथान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अश्वान्: horses
• अश्वान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• निहतेश्वरान्: whose lords/masters have been slain
• निहतेश्वरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निहतेश्वर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• छिन्नध्वजपताकाक्षान्: with banner, pennant, and axle cut off/broken
• छिन्नध्वजपताकाक्षान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्नध्वजपताकाक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विचक्रान्: wheel-less / with wheels destroyed
• विचक्रान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचक्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• हतसारथीन्: whose charioteers have been slain
• हतसारथीन्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हतसारथि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

श्रीकृष्ण उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Gandharva-nagara (as a simile)
• chariots (ratha)
• horses (aśva)
• banners/standards (dhvaja)
• pennons/flags (patākā)
• axles (akṣa)
• wheels (cakra)
• charioteers (sārathi)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the mirage-like nature of martial magnificence: chariots once splendid and powerful become lifeless wrecks in an instant. It invites ethical reflection on the cost of war and the impermanence of worldly display, even when undertaken under the banner of duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Kṛṣṇa points out the battlefield scene: chariots and horses lie fallen; their owners (warriors) are dead; banners and pennons are severed; axles and wheels are broken; charioteers are slain. The imagery likens the ruined war-machines to a ‘Gandharva-city’—beautiful in appearance yet insubstantial and doomed.