Shloka 11
ध्वजाग्रं समपश्याम बालसूर्यसमप्रभम् | भारत! इसी प्रकार हमलोगोंने द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा-के श्रेष्ठ ध्वजको प्रातः:कालीन सूर्यके समान अरुण कान्तिसे प्रकाशित देखा था। उसमें सिंहकी पूँछका चिह्न था || १०३ || काज्चनं पवनोदधूतं शक्रध्वजसमप्रभम्
sañjaya uvāca |
dhvajāgraṃ samapaśyāma bālasūryasamaprabham |
kāñcanaṃ pavanoddhūtaṃ śakradhvajasamaprabham ||
Sañjaya said: “O Bhārata, we beheld the banner-top—shining like the young morning sun—golden, fluttering in the wind, and radiant like Indra’s standard.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward signs—like a radiant banner—function in war as markers of authority and morale. Ethically, it hints that splendor and power-symbols can intensify conflict by projecting dominance, even when the deeper consequences of violence remain grave.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that they saw the crest of a banner shining like the morning sun—golden, wind-tossed, and comparable in brilliance to Indra’s standard—signaling the presence and martial prominence of Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā in the battle scene.