Shloka 98
ध्वजयष्टिं समासाद्य न्यमीलयत लोचने । महात्मा पाण्डुपुत्रके बाणोंसे अत्यन्त घायल हुए अश्व॒त्थामाने ध्वजदण्ड थामकर नेत्र बंद कर लिये ।। स मुहूर्तात् पुन: संज्ञां लब्ध्वा द्रौणिनराधिप
dhvajayaṣṭiṃ samāsādya nyamīlayata locane | mahātmā pāṇḍuputrake bāṇaiḥ atyanta-ghāyalaḥ aśvatthāmāne dhvajadaṇḍaṃ thāmakara netre banda kara liye || sa muhūrtāt punaḥ saṃjñāṃ labdhvā drauṇi-narādhipa
サンジャヤは言った――旗竿に手を伸ばすと、彼は目を閉じた。パーンドゥの子の矢により甚だしく傷ついた大魂アシュヴァッターマンは、なおも旗柱を固く握りしめ、瞼を閉ざした。やがて束の間の後、再び意識を取り戻すと、ドローナの子は――おお、人々の主よ――…
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid extreme injury and confusion, a warrior’s composure and resolve are tested. The image of grasping the banner-staff suggests clinging to one’s station and identity in battle, while the loss and recovery of consciousness underscores the human cost of war and the fragile boundary between valor and vulnerability.
Sañjaya describes Aśvatthāman, badly wounded by a Pāṇḍava’s arrows, reaching the flagstaff and closing his eyes. After a brief interval he regains consciousness, and the narration is poised to continue with what he does next.