Shloka 3
Adhyāya 74 (Book 6, Bhīṣma-parva): Bhīma–Duryodhana re-engagement and afternoon escalation
सिंहलाड्गूलमाकाशे ज्वलन्तमिव पर्वतम् | असज्जमान वृक्षेषु धूमकेतुमिवोत्थितम्
sañjaya uvāca | siṁhalāḍgūlam ākāśe jvalantam iva parvatam | asajjamānaṁ vṛkṣeṣu dhūmaketum ivotthitam, mahārāja |
महाराज! अर्जुनाचा ध्वज सिंहाच्या शेपटीसारखा लांगूलयुक्त होता. तो आकाशात ज्वलंत पर्वतासारखा दिसत होता; वृक्षांत कुठेही अडकत नव्हता आणि उदय पावलेल्या धूमकेतूसारखा भासत होता।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how righteous power is portrayed through auspicious, divinely charged symbols: Arjuna’s standard, marked by the monkey emblem (Hanumān), signifies protection, steadfastness, and moral confidence in a dharma-aligned battle.
Sañjaya narrates to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra the striking appearance of Arjuna’s banner on the battlefield—likening it to a blazing mountain and a rising comet—emphasizing its divine, many-colored, wondrous presence and its monkey emblem.