Shloka 65
प्रमुखे वर्तमानस्य भल्लेनापाहरद् ध्वजम् | ततः प्रभग्नं तत् सैन्यं दौर्योधनमरिंदम
pramukhe vartamānasya bhallena apāharad dhvajam | tataḥ prabhagnaṃ tat sainyaṃ dauryodhanam arindama ||
Sañjaya said: While he stood at the very front, his banner was struck off with a sharp arrow. At that, Duryodhana’s army—its pride shaken—broke and fell into disorder, though Duryodhana himself was a subduer of foes. The verse underscores how, in war, the fall of a visible symbol of command can swiftly erode morale and cohesion, regardless of a leader’s personal valor.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-psychological dimension of warfare: collective courage often depends on visible signs of order and authority (like a banner). When such symbols fall, fear and confusion can spread rapidly, showing that leadership is not only personal bravery but also sustaining the army’s confidence and cohesion.
In the thick of battle, while the warrior is positioned at the front, his banner is cut down by a bhalla-arrow. Seeing this, Duryodhana’s forces lose formation and begin to rout, even though Duryodhana is praised as an ‘arindama’ (foe-subduer).