Shloka 58

Devanagari script

ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद द्वाभ्यां छत्रं विशाम्पते

Transliteration

dhvajam ekena ciccheda dvābhyāṃ chatraṃ viśāmpate

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Mit einem einzigen Pfeil hieb er das Banner ab, und mit zwei weiteren fällte er den königlichen Sonnenschirm, o Herr der Völker—und raubte dem Krieger mitten im Gedränge der Schlacht die sichtbaren Zeichen von Herrschaft und Ehre.

Word by Word

• ध्वजम्: banner, standard
• ध्वजम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एकेन: with one (arrow)
• एकेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• चिच्छेद: cut, severed
• चिच्छेद: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular

• द्वाभ्याम्: with two (arrows)
• द्वाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• छत्रम्: umbrella, royal parasol
• छत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विशाम्: of the people/subjects
• विशाम्: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Plural

• पते: O lord
• पते: Sambodhana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• dhvaja (banner/standard)
• chatra (royal parasol)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights how, in epic warfare, honor and authority are communicated through symbols (banner and parasol). Striking these is an ethical and psychological tactic: it humiliates and destabilizes an opponent without directly killing, showing that victory is pursued not only by force but by undermining status and morale.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a precise feat of archery: a warrior cuts down the opponent’s chariot-banner with one arrow and then fells the royal parasol with two arrows, publicly marking the opponent’s loss of prestige and battlefield standing.