Shloka 29

Chapter 19: Prativyūha of the Pāṇḍavas — Vajra (Acala) Formation and Dawn Omens

Devanagari script

त्वदीयानां परेषां च रथेषु विपुलान्‌ ध्वजान्‌ । अभिभूयार्जुनस्यैको रथे तस्थौ महाकपि:

Transliteration

tvadīyānāṁ pareṣāṁ ca ratheṣu vipulān dhvajān | abhibhūyārjunasyaiko rathe tasthau mahākapiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: “Tâu Đại vương, dẫu trên chiến xa của quân ngài và của địch đều phấp phới vô số cờ lớn, nhưng vượt lên tất cả, chỉ một kỳ tiêu—mang dấu con khỉ vĩ đại—đứng cao trên xe của Arjuna, như thể tuyên cáo chính nghĩa cao hơn và thắng lợi đã định cho lẽ phải.”

Word by Word

• त्वदीयानाम्: of yours
• त्वदीयानाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वदीय
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• परेषाम्: of the others/enemies
• परेषाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Plural

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

• रथेषु: on/in the chariots
• रथेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• विपुलान्: large, vast
• विपुलान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपुल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ध्वजान्: banners/standards
• ध्वजान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अभिभूय: having overpowered/surpassed
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-भू
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• अर्जुनस्य: of Arjuna
• अर्जुनस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• एकः: one, single
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• रथे: on the chariot
• रथे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तस्थौ: stood, remained
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3, Singular

• महाकपिः: the great ape (Hanuman)
• महाकपिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकपि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra
• Arjuna
• Mahākapi (Hanumān)
• Dhvajā (banner/standard)
• Ratha (chariot)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Outer power and numbers are not decisive; a righteous cause supported by divine strength is portrayed as surpassing mere display. The single banner with the great monkey symbolizes moral and spiritual superiority amid the spectacle of war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra: many chariots on both sides bear large standards, yet Arjuna’s chariot is distinguished by one extraordinary banner marked by the mighty monkey (Hanumān), which eclipses the rest.