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

三阇耶说道：大王啊，婆罗多族之雄牛啊——一面旌旗金光灿然，其上饰以色彩斑斓、华美绝伦的孔雀，格外醒目。那旗帜增添了陛下军阵的华采与武威，作为王权的可见标志，也显现出战场上大军井然有序的力量。

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.