Shloka 17
संसक्त इव चाशभ्रेण यथाद्रिर्महता महान् । दिव:स्पृक् सुमहान् केतु: स्यन्दने5स्य समुच्छित:
saṃsakta iva cāśabhreṇa yathādrir mahatā mahān | divaḥspṛk sumahān ketuḥ syandane 'sya samucchitaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Like a great mountain seeming to be clung to by a massive cloud, his exceedingly lofty banner—raised upon his chariot—stood towering, as though touching the very heavens.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward symbols—like a warrior’s banner—project inner resolve and martial stature. In the epic’s ethical frame, such imagery underscores the gravity of kṣatriya duty in war, where reputation, courage, and visible emblems become signs of determination and leadership.
Sañjaya is vividly describing a warrior’s chariot in battle: the banner mounted on it rises so high it seems to touch the sky, compared to a mountain embraced by a huge cloud. The focus is on the imposing, awe-inspiring appearance of the combatant’s standard.