Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 116

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

नन्दनं कौरवेन्द्राणां द्रौणेलक्ष्म समुच्छितम्‌ अश्व॒त्थामाका इन्द्रध्वजके समान प्रकाशमान सुवर्णमय ऊँचा ध्वज वायुकी प्रेरणासे फहराता हुआ कौरव-नरेशोंका आनन्द बढ़ा रहा था

Transliteration

nandanam kauravendrāṇāṃ drauṇelakṣmā samucchitam | aśvatthāmāka indradhvajake samānaprakāśamānaṃ suvarṇamayaṃ ūrdhvaṃ dhvajaṃ vāyukī-preraṇayā phaharataḥ kaurava-nareśānām ānandaṃ vardhayām āsa ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Lá cờ vàng cao vút của Aśvatthāmā—chói sáng như kỳ hiệu của Indra và được dựng cao làm biểu trưng cho dòng dõi Droṇa—phấp phới theo sức gió, khiến các vua Kaurava thêm phần hân hoan và vững dạ. Trong bầu không khí đạo lý của chiến tranh, hình ảnh ấy cho thấy những dấu hiệu bề ngoài của quyền lực và huyết thống có thể thổi bùng kiêu hãnh và sĩ khí, dù chiến địa vẫn đang thử thách những đòi hỏi sâu xa của dharma.

Word by Word

• नन्दनम्: delight, joy (that which delights)
• नन्दनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कौरवेन्द्राणाम्: of the Kuru-kings / lords of the Kurus
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरवेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• द्रौणेलक्ष्म: the banner/ensign of the son of Droṇa (Aśvatthāman)
• द्रौणेलक्ष्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रौणि-लक्ष्मन्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• समुच्छितम्: raised high, uplifted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-√श्री (समुच्छि) / समुच्छित
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• अश्वत्थामकः: Aśvatthāman
• अश्वत्थामकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वत्थामन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इन्द्रध्वजके: on/at the Indra-banner (standard)
• इन्द्रध्वजके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रध्वजक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• समानम्: similar, equal
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रकाशमानम्: shining, radiant
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√काश (प्रकाशमान)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• सुवर्णमयम्: made of gold, golden
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्णमय
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ऊँचम्: high, lofty
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊँच (उच्च)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• ध्वजः: banner, flag
• ध्वजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वायोः: of the wind
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• प्रेरणया: by the impulse/driving (force)
• प्रेरणया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेरणा
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• फहरतः: waving, fluttering
• Type: Verb
• Root: √फहर् (देश्य) / फहरत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कौरव-नरेशानाम्: of the Kaurava kings
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौरव-नरेश
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• आनन्दम्: joy, delight
• आनन्दम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वर्धयन्: increasing, augmenting
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृध् (वर्धयत्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• आसीत्: was
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Kauravas (Kaurava kings)
• Aśvatthāmā
• Droṇa (by lineage reference: Drauṇa)
• Indra (by comparison: Indradhvaja)
• Dhvaja (banner/standard)
• Vāyu (wind)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how symbols—banners, lineage-emblems, and displays of splendor—can intensify collective confidence and pride in war. Ethically, it hints at the contrast between external grandeur and the inner demands of dharma, reminding readers that morale fueled by spectacle does not guarantee righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāmā’s tall, golden standard, radiant like Indra’s banner, fluttering in the wind. Its sight increases the joy and confidence of the Kaurava rulers on the battlefield.