Mahabharata 7.89.31 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 89, Shloka 31

धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — सैन्यप्रशंसा, भेदनवृत्तान्त-प्रश्नः

Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya Dialogue: Praise of the Host and Inquiry after the Breach

Devanagari script

पताकिनं शोणहयं वेदिकृष्णाजिन ध्वजम्‌ । द्रोणस्यप रथमालोक्य प्रहृष्टा: कुरवो5भवन्‌

Transliteration

patākinaṁ śoṇahayaṁ vedīkṛṣṇājinadhvajam | droṇasya ratham ālokya prahṛṣṭāḥ kuravo 'bhavan ||

Translation

Sañjaya nói: Thấy chiến xa của Droṇa—trang hoàng cờ xí, thắng vào những con ngựa đỏ, và mang kỳ hiệu có dấu bàn tế cùng tấm da linh dương đen—quân Kaurava đều hân hoan.

Word by Word

• पताकिनम्: bannered, having a flag
• पताकिनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पताकिन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शोणहयम्: having red horses
• शोणहयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शोणहय
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वेदीकृष्णाजिनध्वजम्: whose banner bore the sign of the altar and black antelope-skin
• वेदीकृष्णाजिनध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदीकृष्णाजिनध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रोणस्य: of Droṇa
• द्रोणस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• रथम्: chariot
• रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आलोक्य: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + लोक्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• प्रहृष्टाः: delighted, very pleased
• प्रहृष्टाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रहृष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुरवः: the Kurus (Kauravas)
• कुरवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अभवन्: became, were
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Droṇa (Droṇācārya)
• Kauravas
• Droṇa’s chariot (ratha)
• red horses (śoṇahayāḥ)
• banner/standard (patākā/dhvaja)
• vedī (sacrificial altar emblem)
• kṛṣṇājina (black antelope-skin emblem)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how external signs—commanders, emblems, and martial display—can rapidly shift collective morale. Ethically, it invites reflection on how confidence in power and victory can overshadow the deeper demands of dharma during war.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that the Kaurava side becomes delighted upon seeing Droṇācārya’s chariot, distinguished by red horses and a ritual-symbolic standard (vedī and kṛṣṇājina), suggesting Droṇa’s prominent presence and the army’s renewed enthusiasm.