Shloka 33
ध्वजवर्णनम् | Dhvaja-varṇanam
Description of War Standards
यस्तं द्वेष्टि स मां द्वेष्टि यस्तं चानु स मामनु
yastaṁ dveṣṭi sa māṁ dveṣṭi yastaṁ cānu sa māmanu
Sañjaya said: “Whoever hates him, hates me; and whoever follows him, follows me as well.” The statement binds personal allegiance and enmity to the chosen leader, stressing that moral and political alignment in war is not neutral: one’s stance toward the principal figure becomes one’s stance toward his cause and companions.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the ethical weight of allegiance: hatred or support directed at a principal figure extends to his associates and cause, implying that one’s choices in conflict create shared responsibility and shared opposition.
Sañjaya reports a declaration of alignment in the war context: the speaker identifies himself with another central person, stating that opponents of that person are also his opponents, and followers of that person are also his followers.