Shloka 31

Devanagari script

कर्णिकारध्वजं चैव सिंहकेतुररिंदम: । प्रत्युज्जगाम सौभद्रं राजपुत्रो बृहद्धलः,कर्णिकारके चिह्नसे युक्त ध्वजवाले सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युपर सिंहचिह्वलित ध्वजावाले शत्रुदमन राजकुमार बृहद्वलने आक्रमण किया

Transliteration

karṇikāradhvajaṃ caiva siṃhaketurarindamaḥ | pratyujjagāma saubhadraṃ rājaputro bṛhaddhalaḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Hoàng tử Bṛhaddhala, kẻ khuất phục quân thù, mang cờ có dấu hoa karṇikāra và biểu tượng sư tử, tiến ra đối mặt Saubhadra (Abhimanyu). Trong bầu không khí đạo lý của cuộc chiến, đây là cuộc chạm trán tất yếu giữa những dũng sĩ lừng danh, nơi dũng khí cá nhân và lòng trung thành với phe mình bị thử thách trước đòi hỏi rộng lớn của kṣatriya-dharma.

Word by Word

• कर्णिकारध्वजम्: him whose banner bore the karnikāra (golden-flower) emblem
• कर्णिकारध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्णिकार-ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सिंहकेतुम्: him whose banner bore a lion-emblem
• सिंहकेतुम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह-केतु
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अरिंदमः: enemy-subduing (one)
• अरिंदमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अरिंदम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रत्युज्जगाम: went forth to meet/advanced against
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-गम्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सौभद्रम्: the son of Subhadrā (Abhimanyu)
• सौभद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौभद्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजपुत्रः: the prince
• राजपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बृहद्धलः: Bṛhaddhala (proper name)
• बृहद्धलः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहद्धल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bṛhaddhala
• Saubhadra (Abhimanyu)
• karṇikāra-dhvaja (banner with karṇikāra emblem)
• siṃha-ketu (lion-emblem/banner)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: warriors, bound by allegiance and duty, meet in direct combat. It underscores how personal courage and reputation operate within the larger ethical burden of war, where each side pursues its perceived obligation despite tragic consequences.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava prince Bṛhaddhala, identifiable by his karṇikāra-marked banner and lion emblem, advances to engage Saubhadra—Abhimanyu—signaling a direct confrontation between notable fighters on the battlefield.