Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 25

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

केतु: काञ्चनचित्रा ड्रैर्मयूरिरुपशोभित: । स केतु: शो भयामास सैन्यं ते भरतर्षभ

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ketuḥ kāñcanacitraḥ draiḥ mayūraiḥ upaśobhitaḥ | sa ketuḥ śobhayāmāsa sainyaṃ te bharatarṣabha mahārāja ||

Translation

Wika ni Sañjaya: O dakilang Hari, O toro sa mga Bharata—isang watawat na kumikislap sa ginto at pinalamutian ng mariringal na paboreal na sari-sari ang kulay ang lantad na namukod. Ang sagisag na iyon ay nagdagdag sa ganda at dangal-mandirigma ng iyong hukbo, bilang hayag na tanda ng kapangyarihang hari at ng maayos na lakas ng hukbong nakahanay sa larangan ng digmaan.

Word by Word

• केतुः: banner, standard
• केतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काञ्चनचित्रः: golden and variegated/ornate
• काञ्चनचित्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनचित्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रैर्मयूरैः: by/with peacocks (of a splendid kind)
• द्रैर्मयूरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रैर्मयूर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उपशोभितः: adorned, beautified
• उपशोभितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-शोभ्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: that, he/that (banner)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• केतुः: banner, standard
• केतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शोभयामास: adorned, made splendid
• शोभयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (causative: शोभय-)
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic Perfect), Third, Singular

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-राज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Mahārāja (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied addressee)
• Bharatarṣabha (epithet of the king/addressee)
• Ketu (battle-standard/banner)
• Mayūra (peacocks)
• Sainya (the army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward symbols—like a royal standard—function as markers of authority, cohesion, and morale in war. Ethically, it reminds readers that power often presents itself through dazzling emblems, yet such splendor is ultimately subordinate to right conduct (dharma) that determines true honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the battlefield scene to the king: a richly ornamented banner, golden and decorated with peacock motifs, is visible and adds to the impressive appearance of the king’s army.