Shloka 38
अध्याय ३: कृपस्य दुर्योधनं प्रति नीत्युपदेशः
Kṛpa’s Counsel to Duryodhana
पारावतसवर्णाश्वं कोविदारवरध्वजम् । धृष्टद्युम्नं रणे दृष्टवा त्वदीया: प्राद्रवन्ू भयात्,जिनके रथमें कबूतरके समान रंगवाले घोड़े जुते हुए थे तथा रथकी श्रेष्ठ ध्वजापर कचनारवृक्षका चिह्न बना हुआ था, उन धृष्टद्युम्नको रणभूमिमें उपस्थित देख आपके सैनिक भयसे भाग खड़े हुए
pārāvata-savarṇāśvaṁ kovidāra-vara-dhvajam | dhṛṣṭadyumnam raṇe dṛṣṭvā tvadīyāḥ prādravan bhayāt ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als Dhṛṣṭadyumna auf dem Schlachtfeld erschien—dessen Wagen mit taubenfarbenen Pferden bespannt war und dessen vortreffliches Banner das Zeichen des Kovidāra-(Kachanāra-)Baumes trug—flohen deine Krieger aus Furcht.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological reality of war: courage is fragile, and the presence of a renowned commander with recognizable insignia can shatter an army’s resolve. It implicitly contrasts the ideal of kṣatriya steadfastness with the human tendency to succumb to fear.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressing the Kaurava side as 'your men') that when Dhṛṣṭadyumna appeared in battle with his distinctive dove-colored horses and kovidāra-emblem banner, the Kaurava troops panicked and fled.