Shloka 5
आचार्य-क्षमा, देśa–kāla-नīti, तथा भेद-दोषः
Teacher-Reconciliation, Timing-Policy, and the Fault of Factionalism
उस समय उन्होंने मन-ही-मन अग्निदेवके प्रसादस्वरूप प्राप्त हुए अपने सुवर्णमय ध्वजका चिन्तन किया, जिसपर मूर्तिमान् वानर उपलक्षित होता है और जिसकी लंबी पूँछ सिंहके समान है। वह ध्वज क्या था, विश्वकर्माकी बनायी हुई दैवी माया थी, जो रथरमें संयुक्त हो जाती थी। अग्निदेवने अर्जुनका मनोभाव जानकर उस ध्वजपर स्थित रहनेके लिये भूतोंको आदेश दिया ।। सपताकं विचित्राड़ूं सोपासड्रं महाबलम् | खात् पपात रथे तूर्ण दिव्यरूपं मनोरमम्,तत्पश्चात् पताका तथा विचित्र अंग और उपांगोंसहित वह अतिशय शक्तिशाली दिव्यरूप मनोरम ध्वज तुरंत ही आकाशसे अर्जुनके रथपर आ गिरा
vaishampāyana uvāca |
sa-patākaṃ vicitrāṅgaṃ sopāṅgaṃ mahābalam |
khāt papāta rathe tūṛṇaṃ divyarūpaṃ manoramam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then, within his heart, he recalled his golden banner—won as a boon from the Fire-god—upon which a manifest monkey was seen, its long tail like that of a lion. That banner was a divine māyā wrought by Viśvakarman, able to be joined to the chariot. Agni, knowing Arjuna’s inward intent, commanded the bhūtas to abide upon that standard. Thereupon, that exceedingly mighty, wondrously adorned banner, of divine and delightful form, swiftly fell from the sky onto Arjuna’s chariot.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Sacred power supports righteous effort: when a warrior’s mind is steady and aligned with duty, divine protection may manifest as strength, clarity, and auspicious signs—here symbolized by the heavenly standard.
A magnificent, divinely formed banner—complete with ornate parts—swiftly descends from the sky and comes to rest on Arjuna’s chariot, marking the arrival of a powerful protective emblem before the coming action.