Shloka 363
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 94: Sātyaki–Sudarśana Yuddha (सात्यकि–सुदर्शन युद्ध)
क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन पार्थकेतुमताडयत् । उन्होंने अर्जुनको तीन और श्रीकृष्णको सत्तर बाण मारे। फिर अत्यन्त तीखे क्षुरप्रसे अर्जुनकी ध्वजापर प्रहार किया
kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena pārthaketum atāḍayat |
Sañjaya said: With a razor-edged, exceedingly sharp arrow, he struck the banner of Arjuna. The narration emphasizes the precision and ferocity of the combat—attacks are directed not only at the warrior’s body but also at his emblem, aiming to shake morale and proclaim dominance amid the chaos of righteous war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even within warfare governed by kṣatriya-dharma, victory is pursued through skill and strategy, including symbolic targets like a banner; the episode highlights how honor, morale, and reputation function as ethical and psychological dimensions of battle.
Sañjaya reports that a combatant uses a razor-edged arrow to strike Arjuna’s chariot-banner, an act meant to display prowess and unsettle the opponent by attacking a visible emblem of identity and pride.