Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां धाम सर्वधनुष्मताम् । आदित्यपथग: केतु: पार्थस्यामिततेजस:
kakudaṁ sarvasainyānāṁ dhāma sarvadhanuṣmatām | ādityapathagaḥ ketuḥ pārthasyāmitatejasaḥ ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Dialah puncak kebanggaan segala bala tentara, naungan bercahaya bagi semua pemanah. Laksana panji yang melaju di jalur matahari, Partha Arjuna—bercahaya tak terukur—berdiri sebagai tanda menyala bagi pihaknya.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how righteous leadership in crisis is expressed through visible courage and steadiness: a single exemplary warrior can become a ‘banner’ for an entire force—strengthening morale, unifying purpose, and embodying the martial dharma expected in a dharma-yuddha setting.
Sanjaya is describing Arjuna’s stature on the battlefield during the Drona Parva events, portraying him as the foremost among armies and archers—radiant like a celestial sign—whose presence functions as an emblem of confidence for his side.