Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 133

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

नृत्यतीव रथोपस्थे श्वसनेन समीरिता । युद्धसस्‍्थलमें कर्णके ध्वजपर सुवर्णमयी मालासे विभूषित पताका वायुसे आन्दोलित हो रथकी बैठकपर नृत्य-सा कर रही थी

Transliteration

nṛtyatīva rathopasthe śvasanena samīritā | yuddhasthale karṇake dhvajapara suvarṇamayī mālāse vibhūṣita patākā vāyunā āndolitā ho rathakī baiṭhakapara nṛtya-sā kara rahī thī ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Bị gió rít thúc đẩy, lá cờ trên kỳ hiệu của Karṇa—được trang sức bằng vòng hoa vàng—đung đưa giữa chiến trường, như thể đang múa trên chỗ ngồi của chiến xa.

Word by Word

• नृत्यति: dances
• नृत्यति: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), 3, singular, परस्मैपद

• इव: as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• रथोपस्थे: on the chariot-seat
• रथोपस्थे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथोपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• श्वसनेन: by the wind/breathing (wind)
• श्वसनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• समीरिता: set in motion, shaken
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-ईर् (धातु) / समीरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), feminine, nominative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• कर्ण (Karṇa)
• रथ (chariot)
• ध्वज (standard/banner)
• पताका (flag/streamer)
• सुवर्णमयी माला (golden garland)
• वायु (wind)
• युद्धस्थल (battlefield)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse is primarily descriptive rather than doctrinal: it highlights how external splendor (banner, gold garland) is animated by indifferent natural forces (wind) amid war, suggesting the fragility and theatricality of martial grandeur in a setting governed by fate, violence, and impermanence.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the battlefield scene around Karṇa: his chariot’s standard, decorated with a golden garland, is caught by the wind and sways so vividly that it appears to dance on the chariot-seat, intensifying the dramatic atmosphere of the combat setting.