Shloka 56

शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12

Devanagari script

ध्वजाग्रं चास्य समरे कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:

Transliteration

dhvajāgraṃ cāsya samare kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Translation

サञ्जयは語った。激戦のただ中で、クンティーの子ユディシュティラは敵の旗の頂を射打った。これは戦車の徽章を損なうのみならず、戦の道義的重圧の中で、相手の威信と決意を正面から挑む所業であった。

Word by Word

• ध्वजाग्रम्: the top of the banner/standard
• ध्वजाग्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वजाग्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अस्य: of him/this (his)
• अस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कुन्तीपुत्रः: Kunti's son
• कुन्तीपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुन्तीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Kuntī
• dhvaja (banner/standard)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even within warfare, actions often target symbols of honor and morale (like a banner) rather than only bodily harm; the verse highlights how prestige and psychological strength function as ethical and strategic dimensions of kṣatriya conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira, identified as Kuntī’s son, in the midst of battle struck the crest/top of his opponent’s banner—signaling a direct challenge and an attempt to weaken the enemy’s standing and confidence.