Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 16

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

मयूरो वृषसेनस्य काउ्चनो मणिरत्नवान्‌

Transliteration

mayūro vṛṣasenasyā kauñcano maṇiratnavān

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—وِرشسین کا (علمی نشان) مور تھا—سنہری رنگ کا، اور جواہرات و رتنوں سے آراستہ۔

Word by Word

• मयूरः: peacock
• मयूरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयूर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वृषसेनस्य: of Vṛṣasena
• वृषसेनस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषसेन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• काञ्चनः: golden
• काञ्चनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मणिरत्नवान्: possessing jewel-gems; gem-adorned
• मणिरत्नवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मणिरत्नवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Vṛṣasena
• mayūra (peacock)
• maṇi-ratna (jewels/gems)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse implicitly contrasts outward splendor—gold and jewels used as martial insignia—with the inner moral gravity of the battlefield, reminding readers that display and prestige do not lessen the ethical consequences of violence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing a striking ornament/insignia associated with Vṛṣasena: a peacock-like emblem that is golden and studded with gems, contributing to the vivid catalog of warriors’ equipment and standards in the war scene.