Shloka 266
ध्वजवर्णनम् | Dhvaja-varṇanam
Description of War Standards
कश्चिदन्य: प्रियतर: कुन्तीपुत्रान्ममार्जुनात् | “मुझे स्त्री, मित्र, कुटुम्बीजन, भाई-बन्धु तथा दूसरा कोई भी कुन्तीपुत्र अर्जुनसे अधिक प्रिय नहीं है
kaścid anyaḥ priyataraḥ kuntīputrān mamārjunāt |
Sañjaya said: “Is there anyone else among Kuntī’s sons who is dearer to me than Arjuna?” The line underscores a personal hierarchy of affection and loyalty: even amid the moral strain of war, Arjuna stands as the foremost beloved, eclipsing other bonds and attachments.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the power of personal attachment and preference even in a dharmic crisis: one’s loyalties can become sharply focused on a single person, raising ethical tension between impartial duty and intimate affection.
In the Drona Parva’s war context, Sañjaya reports a statement that elevates Arjuna above the other sons of Kuntī in dearness, emphasizing Arjuna’s unique value and the emotional stakes surrounding him.