Shloka 88
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
पज्चानां द्रौपदेयानां प्रतिमा ध्वजभूषणम् | धर्ममारुतशक्राणामश्रिनो श्ष महात्मनो:
pañcānāṁ draupadeyānāṁ pratimā dhvajabhūṣaṇam | dharmamārutaśakrāṇām aśrīno ’ṣau mahātmanaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “This noble warrior bore on his banner an emblem fashioned as the likeness of the five sons of Draupadī—an ornament to his standard—signifying the strength and protection associated with Dharma, the Wind-god, and Indra.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, identity is framed through dharma and rightful affiliations: the banner-emblem links the warrior’s public presence to noble lineage and to divine ideals (Dharma, Vāyu, Indra), suggesting that power should be aligned with righteousness and protection rather than mere aggression.
Sañjaya is describing a warrior’s standard: it is adorned with an emblem resembling the five Draupadeyas, presented as a distinguished ornament of the banner and associated with the divine powers named (Dharma, Vāyu, Indra).