Shloka 203
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
अश्वत्थामा ययौ यत्त: सिंहलाड्गूलकेतुना । गोवासनदेशके स्वामी महाराज शैब्य अपने अधीन राजाओंके साथ पताकासे सुशोभित राजोचित गजराजपर आखरूढ़ हो युद्धके लिये चले। कमलके समान कान्तिमान् अश्वत्थामा सिंहकी पूँछके चिह्लसे युक्त ध्वजा-पताकावाले रथपर आरूढ़ हो समस्त सेनाओंके आगे रहकर चलने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | aśvatthāmā yayau yattaḥ siṃha-lāṅgūla-ketunā | govāsana-deśake svāmī mahārāja śaibyaḥ svādhīna-rājabhiḥ saha patākayā suśobhitaṃ rājocitaṃ gajarājaṃ samāruhya yuddhāya niryayau | kamala-sama-kāntimān aśvatthāmā siṃhasya lāṅgūla-cihna-yuktayā dhvajā-patākayā yukte rathopari samāruhya sarvāḥ senāḥ puraskṛtya jagāma ||
Sanjaya berkata: Aśvatthāman maju, membawa panji bertanda ekor singa. Raja Śaibya, penguasa wilayah Govāsana, berangkat ke medan perang bersama para raja bawahannya, menaiki gajah perang kerajaan yang megah berhias panji. Bercahaya laksana teratai, Aśvatthāman menaiki kereta perang dengan bendera beremblem ekor singa, bergerak di barisan terdepan dari seluruh pasukan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war is preceded by visible signs of identity and allegiance—banners, standards, and royal mounts—reminding the reader that martial action is not merely personal violence but a public, duty-bound undertaking within a hierarchy of rulers and followers, where ethical responsibility accompanies power and command.
Sanjaya describes the Kaurava-side warriors moving out for battle: Ashvatthama advances prominently with a lion-tail-emblem banner on his chariot, while King Shaibya, ruler of the Govasana region, proceeds with his subordinate kings, mounted on a decorated war-elephant, as the forces form and march forward.