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Shloka 13

भीमसेन-दुर्योधन-समागमः

Bhīmasena–Duryodhana Engagement at Sunset

ध्वजिनो हेमचित्राड़ा विचरन्तो रणाजिरे । सपताका रथा रेजुर्वेयापत्रपरिवारणा:

sañjaya uvāca |

dhvajino hemacitrāḍhyā vicaranto raṇājire |

sapatākā rathā rejur vyāghrapatra-parivāraṇāḥ ||

三阇耶说道:战场之上,战车往来驰骋——旌旗招展,车体以精妙金饰装点,又覆以虎皮。它们在兵戈之中熠熠生辉,显出武威之盛,正与勇士争胜的决意相表里。

ध्वजिनःbearing banners
ध्वजिनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootध्वजिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
हेमचित्राङ्गाःwhose parts are ornamented with variegated gold
हेमचित्राङ्गाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootहेम-चित्र-अङ्ग
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
विचरन्तःmoving about, roaming
विचरन्तः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootवि-चर्
FormPresent, Plural, Masculine, Nominative, Parasmaipada, शतृ (present active participle)
रणाजिरेin the battlefield (battle-court/arena)
रणाजिरे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootरण-आजिर
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
सपताकाःwith pennants/flags
सपताकाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootस-पताका
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रथाःchariots
रथाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootरथ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
रेजुःshone, were resplendent
रेजुः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootराज्
FormPerfect, 3, Plural, Parasmaipada
वेयापत्रपरिवारणाःcovered with tiger-skin coverings (as housings)
वेयापत्रपरिवारणाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवेयापत्र-परिवारण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
C
chariots (rathāḥ)
B
banners/standards (dhvaja)
F
flags/pennons (patākāḥ)
G
gold ornamentation (hema-alaṅkāra)
T
tiger-skin coverings (vyāghrapatra)

Educational Q&A

The verse does not offer a direct doctrinal injunction; it frames the ethical atmosphere of war by highlighting how outward splendor (gold, banners, prestigious coverings) accompanies inner resolve for victory. It implicitly contrasts the glamour of martial display with the grave reality of conflict, a recurring Mahābhārata theme about the costs and ambiguity of kṣatriya duty.

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the scene on the battlefield: many chariots, bannered and flag-bearing, richly decorated with gold and covered with tiger-skins, are moving about and shining in the combat arena as the armies maneuver for engagement.