Shloka 5
ध्वजवर्णनम् | Dhvaja-varṇanam
Description of War Standards
अलंकृत्योपहारं त॑ नैशं तस्मै न्यवेदयत् । स्मयमानस्तु गोविन्द: फाल्गुन॑ प्रत्यभाषत,तत्पश्चात् अर्जुनने प्रसन्नचित्त होकर श्रीकृष्णको गन्ध और मालाओंसे अलंकृत करके रात्रिका वह सारा उपहार उन्हींको समर्पित किया। तब मुसकराते हुए भगवान् गोविन्द अर्जुनसे बोले--
sañjaya uvāca |
alaṅkṛtyopahāraṃ taṃ naiśaṃ tasmai nyavedayat |
smayamānas tu govindaḥ phālgunaṃ pratyabhāṣata ||
Sañjaya said: Having adorned (Kṛṣṇa) with the night’s offerings—fragrances and garlands—Arjuna presented that entire gift to Him. Then Govinda, smiling, addressed Phālguna (Arjuna). The scene underscores a warrior’s humility and devotion even amid the harsh ethics of war: reverence and self-offering precede counsel and action.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a battlefield setting, right action is grounded in humility and devotion: Arjuna first honors Kṛṣṇa with offerings, indicating surrender of ego and readiness to receive guidance before undertaking consequential deeds.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna adorns Kṛṣṇa with fragrances and garlands and offers the night’s gifts to Him; Kṛṣṇa (Govinda), smiling, then begins to speak to Arjuna (Phālguna), signaling an ensuing counsel or instruction.