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Shloka 576

गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह

Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation

उनन्‍्ममाथ ततस्तालं ध्वजशीर्ष महात्मन: । फिर शिखाशून्य पंखयुक्त बाणका संधान करके उसके द्वारा महात्मा भीष्मके तालचिह्नयुक्त ध्वजका ऊपरी भाग काट डाला

unmamātha tatastālaṃ dhvajaśīrṣa mahātmanaḥ |

Sañjaya dit : Alors il frappa et trancha la partie supérieure de l’étendard du magnanime Bhīṣma, marqué de l’emblème du palmier. Ayant ajusté une flèche empennée avec une précision parfaite, il coupa le sommet de cette bannière.

उन्ममाथhe struck/churned; he smote
उन्ममाथ:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootमथ्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), 3rd, singular, Parasmaipada
ततःthen; thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
तालम्the palmyra-tree emblem / tāla-mark
तालम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootताल
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
ध्वजशीर्षम्the top of the banner (flag-head)
ध्वजशीर्षम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootध्वजशीर्ष
Formneuter, accusative, singular
महात्मनःof the great-souled (Bhīṣma)
महात्मनः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
Formmasculine, genitive, singular

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
B
Bhīṣma
D
dhvaja (banner/standard)
T
tāla (palmyra emblem)

Educational Q&A

Even within war, actions are framed by kṣatriya-dharma: skill and courage are displayed, yet the episode also underscores the tragic ethical tension of righteous duty performed amid a fratricidal conflict.

Sañjaya reports that a warrior strikes Bhīṣma’s standard and cuts off its upper part, specifically the section associated with the palmyra emblem, signaling a targeted feat of archery and a symbolic blow to an opponent’s honor and visibility on the battlefield.