FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.16.11

स्वलङ्‍कृतं श्यामतुरङ्गयोजितं रथं मृगेन्द्रध्वजमाश्रित: पुरात् । वृतो रथाश्वद्विपपत्तियुक्तया स्वसेनया दिग्विजयाय निर्गत: ॥ ११ ॥
svalaṅkṛtaṁ śyāma-turaṅga-yojitaṁ
[svalankritam shyaama-turanga-yojitam]
rathaṁ mṛgendra-dhvajam āśritaḥ purāt
[ratham mrigendra-dhvajam aashritah puraat]
vṛto rathāśva-dvipapatti-yuktayā
[vrito rathaashva-dvipapatti-yuktayaa]
sva-senayā digvijayāya nirgataḥ
[sva-senayaa digvijayaaya nirgatah]
su-alaṅkṛtam — very well decorated śyāma — black turaṅga — horses yojitam — tackled ratham — chariot mṛga-indra — lion dhvajam — flagged āśritaḥ — under the protection purāt — from the capital vṛtaḥ — surrounded by ratha — charioteers aśva — cavalry dvipapatti — elephants yuktayā — thus being equipped sva-senayā — along with infantry digvijayāya — for the purpose of conquering nirgataḥ — went out.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
svalaṅkṛtaṁ śyāma-turaṅga-yojitaṁ
su-alaṅkṛtam
very well decorated
śyāma
black
turaṅga
horses
yojitam
tackled
rathaṁ mṛgendra-dhvajam āśritaḥ purāt
ratham
chariot
mṛga-indra
lion
dhvajam
flagged
āśritaḥ
under the protection
purāt
from the capital
vṛto rathāśva-dvipapatti-yuktayā
vṛtaḥ
surrounded by
ratha
charioteers
aśva
cavalry
dvipapatti
elephants
yuktayā
thus being equipped
sva-senayā digvijayāya nirgataḥ
sva-senayā
along with infantry
digvijayāya
for the purpose of conquering
nirgataḥ
went out.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit sat on a chariot drawn by black horses. His flag was marked with the sign of a lion. Being so decorated and surrounded by charioteers, cavalry, elephants and infantry soldiers, he left the capital to conquer in all directions.

Mahārāja Parīkṣit is distinguished from his grandfather Arjuna, for black horses pulled his chariot instead of white horses. He marked his flag with the mark of a lion, and his grandfather marked his with the mark of Hanumānjī. A royal procession like that of Mahārāja Parīkṣit surrounded by well-decorated chariots, cavalry, elephants, infantry and band not only is pleasing to the eyes, but also is a sign of a civilization that is aesthetic even on the fighting front.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Sūta said: When Parīkṣit, expert in battle, was staying in Kuru-jāṅgala inspecting his kingdom, hearing the rather unpleasant news that Kali had entered, he took up his bow.
Commentary

When Parīkṣit was inspecting his kingdom protected by his troops, hearing the rather unpleasant news that Kali had entered, he took up his bow. It was somewhat pleasant also, since he had the opportunity to punish him. This is expression is used to make it the subject of discussion later. This sentence is connected with the next verse. Śauṇḍi means skilful. An alternative version is saṁyuga-śauriḥ with the same meaning.

He sat on a chariot drawn by black horses, flag marked with a lion. Decorated and surrounded by charioteers, cavalry, elephants, and infantry, he left to conquer in all directions. The right symbols precede right action.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'symbols' announce my serious undertakings?
  • Where could clearer outer markers strengthen inner resolve?
📝 My note

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