Shloka 64
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ५९
Arjuna Breaks the Encirclement; Bhīma Reinforces
पताका विप्रकीर्यन्ते छत्राण्येतानि चार्जुन । “अर्जुन! तारों और सूर्य-चन्द्रमाके चिह्लोंसे अलंकृत ये लाल, पीली, काली और सफेद पताकाएँ तथा ये श्वेत छत्र बिखरे पड़े हैं ।।
patākā viprakīryante chatrāṇy etāni cārjuna | sauvarṇā rājataś caiva taijasāś ca pṛthagvidhāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “O Arjuna, these banners lie scattered, and these parasols as well—of many kinds: some of gold, some of silver, and some resplendent with varied brilliance.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of worldly splendor: banners and royal parasols—emblems of power and honor—are shown scattered in war, reminding the listener that external grandeur collapses before the harsh consequences of conflict and fate.
Sañjaya describes to the listener the battlefield aftermath visible to Arjuna: standards and parasols of various precious materials lie strewn about, indicating fallen warriors and the disarray of armies during the Karṇa Parva fighting.