Shloka 363
ध्वजवर्णनम् | Dhvaja-varṇanam
Description of War Standards
वैनतेयस्य वीरस्यथ समरे रथशोभिन: । 'सूत! कौमोदकी गदा, दिव्य शक्ति, चक्र, धनुष, बाण तथा अन्य सब आवश्यक सामग्रियोंको रथपर रखकर उसके पिछले भागमें समरांगणमें रथपर शोभा पानेवाले वीर विनतानन्दन गरुड़के चिह्नवाले ध्वजके लिये भी स्थान बना लेना
sañjaya uvāca | vainateyasya vīrasya atha samare rathaśobhinaḥ | sūta! kaumodakī gadā divyā śaktiḥ cakraṃ dhanuḥ bāṇāḥ tathā anya-sarvāvaśyakāḥ sāmagrīḥ rathopari nidhāya tasya pṛṣṭhabhāge samara-aṅgaṇe rathopari śobhā-pānavataḥ vīrasya vinatānandana-garuḍa-cihna-dhvajāya api sthānaṃ kalpayasva ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai sais, letakkan di atas kereta perang gada Kaumodakī, tombak ilahi, cakra, busur, anak panah, dan segala perlengkapan yang diperlukan; dan di bagian belakang kereta sediakan pula tempat bagi panji bertanda Garuḍa—lambang putra Vinatā—agar sang kesatria tampak gemilang di medan laga.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined readiness in righteous warfare: a warrior’s effectiveness depends not only on valor but also on proper arrangement of weapons, equipment, and identifying standards—order, foresight, and responsibility in action.
Sañjaya narrates instructions to a charioteer to load and arrange key divine and martial weapons on the chariot and to reserve space for the Garuḍa-emblem banner, ensuring the warrior’s chariot is fully equipped and visibly distinguished in battle.