Shloka 4
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
तस्मिन्ननीकप्रमुखे विषक्ता दोधूयमानाश्न महापताका: । सुरक्तपीतासितपाण्डुराभा महागजस्कन्धगता विरेजु:
sañjaya uvāca | tasminn anīka-pramukhe viṣaktā dodhūyamānāś ca mahā-patākāḥ | su-rakta-pītāsita-pāṇḍurābhā mahā-gaja-skandha-gatā virejuḥ | tam ātmajaṃ yuddhe vikramantam ariṃdamam dṛṣṭvā pārthaḥ su-saṃyattaṃ siṃha-nādam athānadata |
Sañjaya dijo: En la parte delantera de aquella formación, grandes estandartes—sujetos con firmeza y, aun así, ondeando al ser sacudidos—brillaban con esplendor. Eran de vivos tonos rojos, amarillos, negros y blanco pálido, montados sobre los lomos de poderosos elefantes. Entonces, al ver a su propio hijo—triturador de enemigos—esforzarse y desplegar su valor en la lucha con disciplinada preparación, Pārtha (Arjuna) lanzó un rugido como de león.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid the outward grandeur of war—standards, elephants, and roaring heroes—the episode highlights disciplined valor (su-saṃyatta) and the complex dharmic tension of fighting while bound by human relationships, here a father’s response to his son’s prowess.
Sañjaya describes the front of the army where huge, multicolored banners flutter atop elephants. Then Arjuna, seeing his son (understood as Abhimanyu in the given context) advancing bravely and in good order, responds with a lion-like roar to encourage and rally.