Shloka 213
यथा देवासुरे युद्धे पुरा पूषा सम शोभते । जैसे पूर्वकालमें देवासुर-संग्राममें पूषा शोभा पाते थे, उसी प्रकार उस रजतनिर्मित ध्वजसे जयद्रथकी शोभा हो रही थी
yathā devāsure yuddhe purā pūṣā samaśobhate | tathā tasya rajatanirmita-dhvajena jayadrathasya śobhā babhūva |
Sanjaya said: Just as Pūṣan once shone forth in the ancient war between the gods and the asuras, so too did Jayadratha appear resplendent, his splendor heightened by that silver-made banner. The verse underscores how, amid the moral darkness of war, outward signs—standards, emblems, and divine comparisons—are used to frame a warrior’s presence as auspicious and formidable, even when the conflict itself is grievous.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how epic narration uses divine analogies and martial symbols (like a banner) to convey a warrior’s perceived power and auspicious presence; it also invites reflection on the contrast between outward brilliance and the harsh ethical reality of war.
Sanjaya describes Jayadratha’s striking appearance on the battlefield, saying his silver banner makes him shine, comparable to the deity Pūṣan’s splendor in the legendary Deva–Asura war.