Shloka 69
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 95 — Sātyaki’s Breakthrough and the Routing of Allied Contingents
चिच्छेदेन्द्रध्वजाकारौ शिरक्षान्येन पत्रिणा । तब अर्जुनने उसकी गदासहित, इन्द्रध्वजके समान उठी हुई दोनों भुजाओंको दो क्षुरप्रोंसे काट डाला और पंखयुक्त दूसरे बाणसे उसके मस्तकको भी काट गिराया ।। स पपात हतो राजन् वसुधामनुनादयन्
sañjaya uvāca |
chiccheda indradhvajākārau śirakṣānyena patriṇā |
sa papāta hato rājan vasudhām anunādayan ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan dua anak panah tajam, ia menebas kedua lengan yang terangkat—tegak laksana panji Indra—meski masih menggenggam gada; dan dengan satu anak panah berbulu ia memenggal kepala. Tewaslah sang kesatria, O Raja, jatuh menggemakan bumi—sebuah tanda bahwa dalam hukum perang, keperkasaan dan kesombongan sama-sama dibungkam.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the impermanence of bodily power and the inevitability of death in war: even banner-like pride and strength collapse when struck by decisive action, reminding the listener that martial glory is transient and bound to consequence.
Sanjaya reports a battlefield moment: a warrior’s two upraised arms—likened to Indra’s banner—are cut down, his head is severed by a feathered arrow, and he falls dead, making the earth reverberate.