Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 13

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

पताका काज्चनी स्रग्वी ध्वजे कर्णस्य संयुगे

Transliteration

patākā kāñcanī sragvī dhvaje karṇasya saṁyuge

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—میدانِ جنگ میں کرن کے علم پر سنہری جھنڈا تھا، جو ہاروں سے آراستہ تھا۔

Word by Word

• पताका: banner/flag
• पताका: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• काञ्चनी: golden
• काञ्चनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• स्रग्वी: garlanded; wearing a garland
• स्रग्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्रग्विन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ध्वजे: on the standard/flagstaff
• ध्वजे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कर्णस्य: of Karna
• कर्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• संयुगे: in battle; in the combat
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• dhvaja (battle standard/banner)
• patākā (flag/banner)
• srag (garland)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward symbols—standards, banners, and adornments—function in war as markers of identity, prestige, and resolve; ethically, it underscores the Kṣatriya world where honor and reputation are displayed even amid destructive conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing Karṇa’s battle-standard during the fighting, noting that it bore a golden banner and was garlanded—an observational detail that situates Karṇa’s presence and grandeur on the battlefield.