Shloka 203
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
अश्वत्थामा ययौ यत्त: सिंहलाड्गूलकेतुना । गोवासनदेशके स्वामी महाराज शैब्य अपने अधीन राजाओंके साथ पताकासे सुशोभित राजोचित गजराजपर आखरूढ़ हो युद्धके लिये चले। कमलके समान कान्तिमान् अश्वत्थामा सिंहकी पूँछके चिह्लसे युक्त ध्वजा-पताकावाले रथपर आरूढ़ हो समस्त सेनाओंके आगे रहकर चलने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | aśvatthāmā yayau yattaḥ siṃha-lāṅgūla-ketunā | govāsana-deśake svāmī mahārāja śaibyaḥ svādhīna-rājabhiḥ saha patākayā suśobhitaṃ rājocitaṃ gajarājaṃ samāruhya yuddhāya niryayau | kamala-sama-kāntimān aśvatthāmā siṃhasya lāṅgūla-cihna-yuktayā dhvajā-patākayā yukte rathopari samāruhya sarvāḥ senāḥ puraskṛtya jagāma ||
サञ्जयは言った。「アシュヴァッターマンは、獅子の尾を標とする旗を掲げて進み出た。ゴーヴァーサナの地を治めるシャイビヤ王は、配下の諸王を従え、旗印で飾られた王者の戦象に乗って戦へと赴いた。蓮華のごとく輝くアシュヴァッターマンは、獅尾の徽章を掲げる旗を備えた戦車に乗り、諸軍の先頭に立って進んだ—武の決意と、戦に先立つ公然たる忠誠の顕示を描き、やがて来る戦が道義の試練となることを示している。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war is preceded by visible signs of identity and allegiance—banners, standards, and royal mounts—reminding the reader that martial action is not merely personal violence but a public, duty-bound undertaking within a hierarchy of rulers and followers, where ethical responsibility accompanies power and command.
Sanjaya describes the Kaurava-side warriors moving out for battle: Ashvatthama advances prominently with a lion-tail-emblem banner on his chariot, while King Shaibya, ruler of the Govasana region, proceeds with his subordinate kings, mounted on a decorated war-elephant, as the forces form and march forward.