Shloka 83
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
ध्वजं तु भीमसेनस्य वैदूर्यमणिलोचनम् । भ्राजमानं महासिंहं राजन्तं दृष्टटानहम्,वैदूर्यमणिमय नेत्रोंसे सुशोभित महासिंहके चिह्लसे युक्त भीमसेनकी चमकीली ध्वजा फहराती हुई बड़ी शोभा पा रही थी। उसे मैंने देखा था
dhvajaṃ tu bhīmasenasya vaidūryamaṇilocanam | bhrājamānaṃ mahāsiṃhaṃ rājantaṃ dṛṣṭaṭānaham ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Aku melihat panji Bhīmasena—‘matanya’ bertatahkan permata vaidūrya—bersinar cemerlang, membawa lambang singa besar, dan menonjol dalam kemegahan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores how a warrior’s outward insignia—banner, emblem, and brilliance—functions as a public declaration of identity and resolve in righteous combat. In the epic’s ethical frame, such symbols reinforce the kṣatriya’s battlefield role: to stand visibly, inspire allies, and confront foes without concealment.
Sañjaya reports what he sees on the battlefield: Bhīma’s standard is prominently visible, ornamented with vaidūrya-gem ‘eyes’ and marked by a lion emblem, gleaming and drawing attention amid the armies.