Mahabharata 7.80.363 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 80, Shloka 363

ध्वजवर्णनम् | Dhvaja-varṇanam

Description of War Standards

Devanagari script

वैनतेयस्य वीरस्यथ समरे रथशोभिन: । 'सूत! कौमोदकी गदा

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | vainateyasya vīrasya atha samare rathaśobhinaḥ | sūta! kaumodakī gadā divyā śaktiḥ cakraṃ dhanuḥ bāṇāḥ tathā anya-sarvāvaśyakāḥ sāmagrīḥ rathopari nidhāya tasya pṛṣṭhabhāge samara-aṅgaṇe rathopari śobhā-pānavataḥ vīrasya vinatānandana-garuḍa-cihna-dhvajāya api sthānaṃ kalpayasva ||

Translation

సంజయుడు అన్నాడు— “ఓ సూతా! రథంపై కౌమోదకీ గద, దివ్య శక్తి, చక్రం, ధనుస్సు, బాణాలు మరియు ఇతర అవసరమైన సామగ్రి ఉంచు; అలాగే రథపు వెనుక భాగంలో వినతానందన గరుడచిహ్న ధ్వజానికి కూడా స్థానం కల్పించు—యుద్ధంలో ఆ వీరుడు రథంపై దివ్యంగా ప్రకాశించునట్లు।”

Word by Word

• वैनतेयस्य: of Vainateya (Garuda)
• वैनतेयस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनतेय
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वीरस्य: of the hero
• वीरस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अथ: then/now
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• रथशोभिनः: of (him) who is splendid on a chariot
• रथशोभिनः: Sambandha
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रथशोभिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Sūta (charioteer)
• Garuḍa (Vainateya, son of Vinatā)
• Kaumodakī (mace)
• Divya-śakti (divine spear)
• Cakra (discus)
• Dhanuḥ (bow)
• Bāṇāḥ (arrows)
• Dhvaja (banner/standard)
• Ratha (chariot)
• Samara (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined readiness in righteous warfare: a warrior’s effectiveness depends not only on valor but also on proper arrangement of weapons, equipment, and identifying standards—order, foresight, and responsibility in action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates instructions to a charioteer to load and arrange key divine and martial weapons on the chariot and to reserve space for the Garuḍa-emblem banner, ensuring the warrior’s chariot is fully equipped and visibly distinguished in battle.