Shloka 4

उद्योगपर्व — अध्याय १४१: कर्ण–कृष्णसंवादः, उत्पात-स्वप्न-लक्षणानि

Karna–Krishna Dialogue: Omens and Dream-Signs

Devanagari script

दिव्या माया विहिता भौमनेन समुच्छिता इन्द्रकेतुप्रकाशा । दिव्यानि भूतानि जयावहानि दृश्यन्ति चैवात्र भयानकानि

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

divyā māyā vihitā bhaumanena samucchitā indraketuprakāśā |

divyāni bhūtāni jayāvahāni dṛśyante caivātra bhayānakāni ||

Translation

Вишвакарман (Бхаумана) сотворил на том стяге дивную, чудесную майю и вознёс её высоко; он сияет, как знамя Индры. На нём видны небесные существа — знамения, сулящие победу, — но также и образы, страшные для взора.

Word by Word

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• माया: illusion; magical art
• माया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• विहिता: arranged; fashioned; made
• विहिता: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-धा
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• भौमनेन: by Bhūmana (a name/epithet; here: the maker)
• भौमनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भौमन
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• समुच्छिता: raised up; set up high
• समुच्छिता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-उद्-छि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular, kta (past passive participle)

• इन्द्रकेतुप्रकाशा: shining like Indra's banner
• इन्द्रकेतुप्रकाशा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्रकेतुप्रकाश
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• दिव्यानि: divine
• दिव्यानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• भूतानि: beings; creatures
• भूतानि: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• जयावहानि: bringing victory
• जयावहानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जय-आवह
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

• दृश्यन्ति: are seen; appear
• दृश्यन्ति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Plural

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

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• अत्र: here; in this (banner/flag)
• अत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र

• भयानकानि: terrifying
• भयानकानि: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयानक
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhaumana (Viśvakarman)
• Indra
• Indra-ketu (Indra’s banner/standard)
• dhvaja (banner/standard)
• divine beings/creatures (bhūtāni)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how royal power in the Mahābhārata is framed not only through human strategy but also through signs and crafted symbols: a banner can embody both auspicious promise (victory-bringing omens) and dread (terrifying forms), reminding listeners that war is morally weighty and psychologically overwhelming even when success is foretold.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports the appearance of a lofty, radiant standard fashioned through divine craftsmanship (māyā) by Bhaumana/Viśvakarman. It shines like Indra’s banner, and on it appear supernatural figures—some interpreted as auspicious for victory, others frightening—serving as portent-laden imagery in the lead-up to conflict.