Shloka 25

Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

सतु दृष्टवा विमुहार॒न्तं स्वयमेवोत्तरस्तत: । कवचेन महाहेण समनहाद्‌ बृहन्नलाम्‌,बृहत्नलाको (कवच धारणके समय) भूल करती देख राजकुमार उत्तरने स्वयं ही उसे बहुमूल्य कवच धारण कराया

Transliteration

sa tu dṛṣṭvā vimūḍhāntaṃ svayam evottaras tataḥ | kavacena mahārheṇa samanahād bṛhannalām ||

Translation

毗湿摩波耶那说道：见布里汉纳罗困惑失措，披甲时屡屡出错，乌多罗王子便亲自为她穿戴上一副极其珍贵的铠甲。此事彰显临危之前正确备战的迫切，也显出刹帝利的职责：务必确保战斗准备周全，即便被武装之人外表看来并不相称或心有踌躇。

Word by Word

• सः: he (Uttara)
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

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

• विमूढम्: bewildered/confused
• विमूढम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमूढ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्वयम्: himself
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम्

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• उत्तरः: Uttara (the prince)
• उत्तरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then/thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• कवचेन: with/by a cuirass (armor)
• कवचेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवच
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• महाहेण: great/valuable (as an attribute of the armor)
• महाहेण: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाह
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• समनहात्: he fastened/armed (her/him)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + नह्
• Form: लुङ् (aorist), Parasmaipada, Third, Singular

• बृहन्नलाम्: Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise)
• बृहन्नलाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहन्नला
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Uttara (Prince Uttara)
• Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise)
• kavaca (armor/coat of mail)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when confusion or incompetence appears, dharma in a crisis demands practical responsibility: ensuring proper readiness and protection. Uttara’s act highlights leadership through action—securing the necessary means (armor) for the task at hand.

What is happening in the narrative?

As the battle situation approaches, Bṛhannalā (Arjuna in disguise) appears bewildered while handling the equipment. Seeing this, Prince Uttara personally helps by fitting her with a very valuable coat of mail.