Shloka 246
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
केतुराचार्यमुख्यस्य द्रोणस्य धनुषा सह | आचार्यप्रवर द्रोणकी पताकापर कमण्डलुविभूषित सुवर्णमयी वेदी और धनुषके चिह्न बने हुए थे
ketur ācāryamukhyasya droṇasya dhanuṣā saha | ācāryapravara-droṇasya patākāyāṃ kamaṇḍalu-vibhūṣitā suvarṇamayī vedī ca dhanuṣaś-cihnāni ca babhūvuḥ ||
ಸಂಜಯನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಆಚಾರ್ಯಪ್ರವರ ದ್ರೋಣನ ಕೇತುವಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕಮಂಡಲುವಿನಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟ ಸ್ವರ್ಣಮಯ ವೇದಿಯ ಚಿಹ್ನೆಯೂ, ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಧನುಸ್ಸಿನ ಚಿಹ್ನೆಯೂ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical complexity of dharma in wartime: Droṇa, an eminent teacher associated with discipline and sacred learning (suggested by the kamaṇḍalu and altar emblem), nevertheless fights as a warrior. It suggests that social roles and personal ideals can be strained by obligations of loyalty and duty, a recurring Mahābhārata theme.
Sañjaya is describing the identifying marks on Droṇa’s battle standard. The banner displays specific emblems—an altar, a kamaṇḍalu, and a bow—so that warriors and listeners can recognize Droṇa’s presence and stature on the battlefield.