Shloka 386
नाभ्यवर्तन्त राजान: सहिता वानरध्वजम् | महाराज! वे सब नरेश बाणोंसे पीड़ित हो गये थे। उनके विशाल ध्वज छिजत्न-भिन्न होकर बिखर गये थे। वे सब राजा एक साथ मिलकर भी कपिध्वज अर्जुनके सामने टिक न सके
na abhyavartanta rājānaḥ sahitā vānara-dhvajam |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja, sekalipun bersatu, para raja itu tak mampu bertahan di hadapan Arjuna yang berpanji bergambar kera. Dihantam anak panahnya, panji-panji besar mereka koyak dan hancur berantakan; tekad mereka pun runtuh.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores that collective power, status, and numbers do not guarantee victory; disciplined skill, steadfast courage, and alignment with a higher purpose can overturn apparent advantages. Ethically, it cautions rulers that authority without inner strength and right conduct collapses under pressure.
Sañjaya reports that many kings, even acting together, fail to hold their position against Arjuna (identified by the monkey-emblem banner). They are wounded by arrows, their large banners are torn apart, and they cannot endure his assault on the battlefield.