Shloka 26

Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

स बिभ्रत्‌ कवचं चाग्रयं स्वयमप्यंशुमत्प्रभम्‌ । ध्वजं च सिंहमुच्छित्य सारथ्ये समकल्पयत्‌,फिर उसने स्वयं भी सूर्यके समान कान्तिमान्‌ सुन्दर कवच धारण किया और रथपर सिंहध्वज फहराकर बृहन्नलाको सारथिके कार्यमें नियुक्त कर दिया

Transliteration

sa bibhrat kavacaṃ cāgryaṃ svayam apy aṃśumatprabham | dhvajaṃ ca siṃham ucchitya sārathye samakalpayat ||

Translation

پھر اس نے خود بھی سورج کی مانند درخشاں عمدہ زرہ پہنی، رتھ پر شیر کا جھنڈا بلند کیا اور بِرہنّلا کو سارَتھی کے فرض پر مقرر کر دیا۔

Word by Word

सःhe

बिभ्रत्bearing/wearing

कवचम्armor

चand

अग्र्यम्excellent, foremost

स्वयम्himself

अपिalso/even

अंशुमत्-प्रभम्having radiance like the sun

ध्वजम्banner/standard

चand

सिंहम्lion

उच्छित्यhaving raised/hoisted

सारथ्येin the role of charioteering

सम्together/fully (as preverb)

अकल्पयत्appointed/assigned

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Bṛhannalā

kavaca (armor)

siṃha-dhvaja (lion-banner)

ratha (chariot)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined readiness and proper delegation of roles: a leader equips himself appropriately and assigns duties according to capability, aligning action with kṣatriya-dharma and the demands of the moment.

What is happening in the narrative?

The warrior prepares for battle by putting on splendid armor and hoisting the lion-banner on the chariot, then appoints Bṛhannalā as the charioteer—signaling formal readiness and the organization of the chariot team.