Shloka 56
शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
ध्वजाग्रं चास्य समरे कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:
dhvajāgraṃ cāsya samare kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
Dijo Sañjaya: En lo más encarnizado de la batalla, Yudhiṣṭhira, hijo de Kuntī, golpeó la punta misma del estandarte de su adversario—no sólo para dañar el emblema del carro, sino para desafiar el prestigio y la firmeza del enemigo en medio de la tensión moral de la guerra.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within warfare, actions often target symbols of honor and morale (like a banner) rather than only bodily harm; the verse highlights how prestige and psychological strength function as ethical and strategic dimensions of kṣatriya conflict.
Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira, identified as Kuntī’s son, in the midst of battle struck the crest/top of his opponent’s banner—signaling a direct challenge and an attempt to weaken the enemy’s standing and confidence.