Shloka 49
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
यस्य नागो ध्वजाग्रेड्सौ हेमकेतनसंवृत: । धृतराष्ट्रात्मज: श्रीमानेष राजा सुयोधन:
yasya nāgo dhvajāgre ’sau hemaketana-saṁvṛtaḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭrātmajaḥ śrīmān eṣa rājā suyodhanaḥ ||
Arjuna dit : «Voyez : c’est l’illustre fils de Dhṛtarāṣṭra, le roi Suyodhana (Duryodhana). À l’avant de l’étendard de son char se dresse l’emblème du serpent, et il est orné d’un fanion d’or. Ainsi marqué par la splendeur royale et l’apparat guerrier, il se tient en évidence parmi les combattants, annonçant tout ensemble sa puissance et son orgueil à l’approche du conflit.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward signs of power—royal splendor, banners, and emblems—announce a leader’s presence in war, yet they also hint at inner qualities such as pride and ambition. Ethically, it frames the battlefield as a place where one must recognize opponents clearly and act with discernment, not merely be swayed by display.
Arjuna points out Duryodhana (Suyodhana), identifying him by his distinctive banner marked with a serpent emblem and a golden pennon. This occurs in the Virāṭa context as the Kaurava forces are being observed and recognized before engagement.