Shloka 96
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 107: Karṇa–Bhīma Saṃmarda
Arrow-storm Engagement
त्रासयामास तत् सैन्यं ध्वजो गाण्डीवधन्चन: । राजन! श्रेष्ठ वानरसे सुशोभित तथा पताकाओंसे अलंकृत गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनका वह ध्वज आपकी उस सेनाको भयभीत किये देता था
trāsayāmāsa tat sainyaṁ dhvajo gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ | rājan śreṣṭha-vānarena suśobhitaḥ tathā patākābhiḥ alaṅkṛtaḥ gāṇḍīvadhārī arjunasya sa dhvajaḥ tava senāṁ bhayabhītām akarot ||
Sañjaya said: O King, the banner of Arjuna—he who bears the Gāṇḍīva—adorned with the excellent monkey emblem and embellished with streamers, struck terror into that army. In the moral atmosphere of the war, this is not mere display: the standard becomes a visible sign of resolve and prowess, unsettling opponents and shaping the battlefield’s ethical tension between duty and destruction.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how symbols of righteous resolve and proven prowess (a hero’s banner and emblem) can influence morale. In dharma-based warfare, inner steadiness and reputation become forces that shape outcomes, reminding listeners that fear and courage arise not only from weapons but from perceived legitimacy, discipline, and purpose.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna’s banner—decorated with the foremost monkey emblem and streamers—was so imposing that it frightened the opposing troops. The scene emphasizes the psychological impact of Arjuna’s presence as the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva.