Mahabharata — Drona Parva, Shloka 25

Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda

Arrow-storm Engagement

Devanagari script

केतु: काञ्चनचित्रा ड्रैर्मयूरिरुपशोभित: । स केतु: शो भयामास सैन्यं ते भरतर्षभ

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | ketuḥ kāñcanacitraḥ draiḥ mayūraiḥ upaśobhitaḥ | sa ketuḥ śobhayāmāsa sainyaṃ te bharatarṣabha mahārāja ||

Translation

Sañjaya thưa: Tâu Đại vương, hỡi bậc hùng kiệt trong dòng Bharata—một lá cờ rực sáng ánh vàng, điểm tô bằng những chim công lộng lẫy muôn sắc, nổi bật hiển nhiên. Kỳ tiêu ấy làm tăng thêm vẻ đẹp và uy phong chiến trận của quân đội bệ hạ, như một dấu hiệu hữu hình của vương quyền và sức mạnh có trật tự của đại quân nơi chiến địa.

Word by Word

• केतुः: banner, standard
• केतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• काञ्चनचित्रः: golden and variegated/ornate
• काञ्चनचित्रः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चनचित्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• द्रैर्मयूरैः: by/with peacocks (of a splendid kind)
• द्रैर्मयूरैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रैर्मयूर
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उपशोभितः: adorned, beautified
• उपशोभितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप-शोभ्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सः: that, he/that (banner)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• केतुः: banner, standard
• केतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शोभयामास: adorned, made splendid
• शोभयामास: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ्/शोभ् (causative: शोभय-)
• Form: Perfect (Periphrastic Perfect), Third, Singular

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ते: of you/your
• ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• भरतर्षभ: O bull among the Bharatas
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरत-ऋषभ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• महाराज: O great king
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-राज
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Mahārāja (Dhṛtarāṣṭra, implied addressee)
• Bharatarṣabha (epithet of the king/addressee)
• Ketu (battle-standard/banner)
• Mayūra (peacocks)
• Sainya (the army)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward symbols—like a royal standard—function as markers of authority, cohesion, and morale in war. Ethically, it reminds readers that power often presents itself through dazzling emblems, yet such splendor is ultimately subordinate to right conduct (dharma) that determines true honor.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the battlefield scene to the king: a richly ornamented banner, golden and decorated with peacock motifs, is visible and adds to the impressive appearance of the king’s army.