Shloka 8
अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च
Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter
ततः पुनरमेयात्मा तव पुत्रो जनाधिप । क्षुरेण सहदेवस्य ध्वजं चिच्छेद काउ्चनम्,जनेश्वरर इसके बाद अमेय आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न आपके पुत्रने एक क्षुरके द्वारा सहदेवकी सुवर्णमयी ध्वजा काट डाली
tataḥ punar ameyātmā tava putro janādhipa | kṣureṇa sahadevasya dhvajaṃ ciccheda kāñcanam ||
Sañjaya said: Then again, O lord of men, your son—of immeasurable spirit—severed Sahadeva’s golden banner with a razor-edged weapon.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, victory is pursued not only through killing but also by undermining an opponent’s symbols of honor and morale. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s attention to the ethical and psychological dimensions of kṣatriya conflict—where striking the banner is a calculated blow to identity and resolve.
Sañjaya reports to the king that the king’s son, displaying formidable prowess, uses a razor-like blade to cut down Sahadeva’s golden banner. It is a battlefield episode emphasizing momentum and dominance in the ongoing duel.