Mahabharata 7.149.84 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 149, Shloka 84

अलंबलवधः (Alaṃbala-vadhaḥ) / The Slaying of Alaṃbala and the Advance toward Karṇa

Devanagari script

चित्रकाज्चनसंनाहैवाजिमुख्यैर्विशाम्पते । घण्टाजालाकुलरवं शक्तितोमरविद्युतम्‌

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

citrakāñcanasaṃnāhair vājimukhyair viśāmpate |

ghaṇṭājālākularavaṃ śaktitomaravidyutam, prajānātha |

Translation

O panginoon ng bayan, ang mga pangunahing kabayo ay binihisan ng maringal na harnes at baluting ginto na sari-sari ang anyo. Ang karwaheng kanilang hinihila ay umalingawngaw sa matamis at laganap na tunog ng mga kumpol ng maliliit na kampanilya; at ang mga sandatang naroon—mga sibat at tomara—ay kumikislap na parang kidlat.

Word by Word

• चित्रकाः: variegated, splendid
• चित्रकाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

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

• कनक-संनाहैः: with golden armours/harnesses
• कनक-संनाहैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनक-संनाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अश्व-मुख्यैः: with foremost horses
• अश्व-मुख्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व-मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• विशाम्: of the people/subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (प्रातिपदिक: विश्/विशा)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• घण्टा-जाल-आकुल-रवम्: a sound filled with a net/cluster of bells
• घण्टा-जाल-आकुल-रवम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घण्टा-जाल-आकुल-रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शक्ति-तोमर-विद्युतम्: like lightning (in respect of) spears and tomaras
• शक्ति-तोमर-विद्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति-तोमर-विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रजा-नाथ: O lord of subjects
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा-नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• king (addressed as Viśāmpati / Prajānātha, i.e., Dhṛtarāṣṭra)
• horses (vājimukhya)
• chariot
• bells (ghaṇṭā)
• weapons: śakti (spear), tomara (javelin)
• lightning (vidyut)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the contrast between the alluring pageantry of war (golden harness, bell-sounds, flashing weapons) and the grave ethical reality of violence. It invites reflection that royal power and military brilliance must still be weighed against dharma and responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a chariot prepared for battle: elite horses are adorned with ornate golden equipment; the chariot rings with clustered bells; and spears and javelins gleam like lightning—an image of readiness and impending combat.