Shloka 7

Devanagari script

ध्वजौ च दृष्टवा संसक्तौ विस्मय: समपद्यत । हस्तिकक्षं च कर्णस्य वानरं च किरीटिन:

Transliteration

dhvajau ca dṛṣṭvā saṃsaktau vismayaḥ samapadyata | hastikakṣaṃ ca karṇasya vānaraṃ ca kirīṭinaḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：见两面旗幡逼近相贴，诸王会众皆生惊异。因为迦尔那之旗有“象链”之徽，而戴冠的阿周那之旗上，则坐着显现之猿神（哈奴曼）——当两位斗将迫近交锋之际，此乃令人震慑的征兆。

Word by Word

• ध्वजौ: two banners/standards
• ध्वजौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral)

• संसक्तौ: closely attached/entangled (together)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संसक्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Dual

• विस्मयः: astonishment
• विस्मयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्मय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• समपद्यत: arose/occurred
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पद्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• हस्तिकक्षम्: elephant-girth/elephant-strap (emblem)
• हस्तिकक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्ति-कक्ष
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

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

• कर्णस्य: of Karna
• कर्णस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वानरम्: monkey (Hanuman emblem)
• वानरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वानर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

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

• किरीटिनः: of the diadem-wearer (Arjuna)
• किरीटिनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीटिन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Karṇa
• Arjuna (Kirīṭin)
• Hanumān (as the monkey on Arjuna’s banner)
• chariots
• banners/standards
• elephant-chain emblem (hastikakṣa)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how outward signs—banners and emblems—carry moral and psychological weight in epic warfare: they represent lineage, vows, alliances, and divine support, shaping courage and restraint. Wonder arises not merely from spectacle but from recognizing the symbolic forces gathered behind each warrior.

What is happening in the narrative?

As Karṇa and Arjuna draw near in their chariots, their standards come so close they appear to touch. The watching kings marvel, noting Karṇa’s banner marked with an elephant-chain emblem and Arjuna’s banner bearing the manifest monkey (Hanumān), signaling the magnitude of the impending clash.