Shloka 28

Adhyāya 36: Ghora-yuddha-varṇanam

A Clinical Description of the Intensified Engagement

Devanagari script

धनूंषि चित्राणि निरीक्ष्य शल्य ध्वजान्‌ गदा: सायकांश्रोग्ररूपान्‌ | असिं च दीप्तं परमायुधं च शड्खं च शुभ्र॑ स्वनवन्तमुग्रम्‌

Transliteration

dhanūṁṣi citrāṇi nirīkṣya śalya dhvajān gadāḥ sāyakāṁś cogra-rūpān | asiṁ ca dīptaṁ paramāyudhaṁ ca śaṅkhaṁ ca śubhraṁ svanavantam ugram ||

Translation

Sanjaya thưa: “Hỡi Śalya, sau khi xem xét kỹ cỗ xe, họ dâng lên nhiều cây cung kỳ diệu, những mũi tên đáng sợ, cờ hiệu, chùy, một thanh kiếm rực sáng, các vũ khí thượng hạng khác, và cả một tù và trắng có tiếng vang trầm hùng, thật ghê gớm.”

Word by Word

• धनूंषि: bows
• धनूंषि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• चित्राणि: variegated, wonderful
• चित्राणि: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• निरीक्ष्य: having examined/inspected
• निरीक्ष्य: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ईक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), Non-finite

• शल्य: O Shalya
• Type: Noun
• Root: शल्य
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

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

• गदाः: maces
• गदाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• सायकान्: arrows
• सायकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सायक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

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

• उग्ररूपान्: of fierce appearance
• उग्ररूपान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्ररूप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• असिम्: a sword
• असिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: असि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• दीप्तम्: blazing, shining
• दीप्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप्त
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• परमायुधम्: the supreme weapon
• परमायुधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमायुध
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• शङ्खम्: a conch
• शङ्खम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• शुभ्रम्: white, bright
• शुभ्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्वनवन्तम्: resounding, possessing sound
• स्वनवन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वनवत्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• उग्रम्: fierce, formidable
• उग्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• संजय (Sañjaya)
• शल्य (Śalya)
• धनुष् (bows)
• सायक (arrows)
• ध्वज (banners/standards)
• गदा (mace)
• असि/खड्ग (sword)
• आयुध (weapons)
• शङ्ख (conch)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the disciplined readiness of a warrior culture: careful inspection and proper provisioning of arms and insignia. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma—preparation and responsibility in battle—where power is paired with order, signaling (conch, banners), and accountability.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya narrates to the blind king how Śalya is addressed while the chariot and its equipment are examined. A full set of formidable weapons and martial emblems—bows, arrows, banners, mace, sword, and a resounding white conch—are presented, emphasizing the gravity and ceremonial completeness of war preparation.