Shloka 576

गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह

Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation

Devanagari script

उनन्‍्ममाथ ततस्तालं ध्वजशीर्ष महात्मन: । फिर शिखाशून्य पंखयुक्त बाणका संधान करके उसके द्वारा महात्मा भीष्मके तालचिह्नयुक्त ध्वजका ऊपरी भाग काट डाला

Transliteration

unmamātha tatastālaṃ dhvajaśīrṣa mahātmanaḥ |

Translation

Sañjaya said: Then he struck and severed the upper portion of the great-souled Bhīṣma’s banner, marked with the emblem of the palmyra. Fitting a feathered arrow and aiming true, he cut away the banner’s crest.

Word by Word

• उन्ममाथ: he struck/churned; he smote
• उन्ममाथ: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: मथ्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• तालम्: the palmyra-tree emblem / tāla-mark
• तालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• ध्वजशीर्षम्: the top of the banner (flag-head)
• ध्वजशीर्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वजशीर्ष
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled (Bhīṣma)
• महात्मनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन्
• Form: masculine, genitive, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• dhvaja (banner/standard)
• tāla (palmyra emblem)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even within war, actions are framed by kṣatriya-dharma: skill and courage are displayed, yet the episode also underscores the tragic ethical tension of righteous duty performed amid a fratricidal conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that a warrior strikes Bhīṣma’s standard and cuts off its upper part, specifically the section associated with the palmyra emblem, signaling a targeted feat of archery and a symbolic blow to an opponent’s honor and visibility on the battlefield.