Shloka 27
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां धाम सर्वधनुष्मताम् । आदित्यपथग: केतु: पार्थस्यामिततेजस:
kakudaṁ sarvasainyānāṁ dhāma sarvadhanuṣmatām | ādityapathagaḥ ketuḥ pārthasyāmitatejasaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: He was the very crest and pride of all the armies, the radiant refuge of all who bore bows. Like a banner moving along the sun’s path, that warrior of immeasurable splendor—Arjuna—stood forth as a blazing sign for his side, inspiring his own and striking awe into the foe.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how righteous leadership in crisis is expressed through visible courage and steadiness: a single exemplary warrior can become a ‘banner’ for an entire force—strengthening morale, unifying purpose, and embodying the martial dharma expected in a dharma-yuddha setting.
Sanjaya is describing Arjuna’s stature on the battlefield during the Drona Parva events, portraying him as the foremost among armies and archers—radiant like a celestial sign—whose presence functions as an emblem of confidence for his side.