Mahabharata · 7.63.30–31
॥
Devanāgarī
पताकिनं शोणहयं वेदीकृष्णाजिनध्वजम् ॥
द्रोणस्य रथम् आलोक्य प्रहृष्टाः कुरवो ऽभवन् ॥
सिद्धचारणसंघानां विस्मयः सुमहान् अभूत् ॥
द्रोणेन विहितं दृष्ट्वा व्यूहं क्षुब्धार्णवोपमम् ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
patākinaṃ śoṇahayaṃ vedīkṛṣṇājinadhvajam ||
droṇasya ratham ālokya prahṛṣṭāḥ kuravo 'bhavan ||
siddhacāraṇasaṃghānāṃ vismayaḥ sumahān abhūt ||
droṇena vihitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vyūhaṃ kṣubdhārṇavopamam ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
पताकिनम् शोणहयम्patākinam śoṇahayambearing a banner, with red horses; with a standard, with red horses
वेदीकृष्णाजिनध्वजम्vedīkṛṣṇājinadhvajamwith a banner [shaped like] an altar and a black antelope skin; with a banner of an altar and black skin
द्रोणस्य रथम् आलोक्यdroṇasya ratham ālokyabeholding Drona's chariot; beholding Drona's chariot
प्रहृष्टाः कुरवः अभवन्prahṛṣṭāḥ kuravaḥ abhavanthe Kauravas rejoiced; the Kauravas rejoiced
सिद्धचारणसंघानाम्siddhacāraṇasaṃghānāmof the hosts of siddhas and charanas; of the hosts of siddhas and charanas
विस्मयः सुमहान् अभूत्vismayaḥ sumahān abhūtthere was very great wonder; there was very great wonder
द्रोणेन विहितम् दृष्ट्वाdroṇena vihitam dṛṣṭvāseeing what was arrayed by Drona; beholding what Drona had arrayed
व्यूहम् क्षुब्धार्णवोपमम्vyūham kṣubdhārṇavopamamthe formation, like a churned ocean; the formation, like a churned ocean
Translation
Beholding Drona's chariot -- bearing a banner, with red horses, with a banner [in the shape of] an altar and a black antelope skin -- the Kauravas rejoiced. Great wonder arose among the hosts of siddhas and charanas, who beheld the formation arrayed by Drona, like a churned ocean.
Version
a2aabcd8abe2 · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:45:02 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Drona's banner -- "vedī-kṛṣṇājina", an altar and black skin -- bears the marks of a brahmin-priest: even on the chariot of war he carries the emblems of sacred rite. His formation is like "kṣubdhārṇava", a churned ocean, astonishing even the siddhas. It is telling that the greatness of his skill is beyond dispute -- the only question is what it serves. The verse teaches us to distinguish a gift from its use: Drona's mastery is worthy of the wonder of celestial beings, yet it is turned to the defense of wrong; and the greatest talent, unmeasured against dharma, evokes admiration but not blessing.