Shloka 89
द्रोणवध-प्रश्नः
Droṇa’s Fall: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry
क्रमश: धर्म, वायु, इन्द्र तथा महात्मा अश्विनीकुमारोंकी प्रतिमाएँ पाँचों द्रौपदीपुत्रोंके ध्वजोंकी शोभा बढ़ाती थीं ।। अभिमन्यो: कुमारस्य शार्ज्गपक्षी हिरण्मय: । रथे ध्वजवरो राजंस्तप्तचामीकरोज्ज्वल:
kramaśaḥ dharma-vāyu-indrāḥ tathā mahātmā aśvinīkumārau pratīmāḥ pañca draupadīputrāṇāṁ dhvajānāṁ śobhāṁ vardhayanti sma || abhimanyoḥ kumārasya śārṅgapakṣī hiraṇmayaḥ | rathe dhvajavaro rājan tapta-cāmīkarojjvalaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Menurut tertibnya, lambang Dharma, Vāyu, Indra, serta pasangan Aśvin yang mulia menambah seri pada lima panji yang dibawa oleh lima putera Draupadī. Dan pada rata putera muda Abhimanyu, wahai Raja, bersinar sebuah panji terunggul—emas, gemerlap laksana emas halus yang dipanaskan—dengan lambang seekor burung bersayap seperti śārṅga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial display is framed by ethical and divine symbolism: banners are not mere decoration but reminders of Dharma, vital force (Vāyu), sovereignty (Indra), and healing/protection (Aśvins). In the epic’s moral imagination, valor is ideally accompanied by alignment with higher principles.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield array by focusing on the standards atop the warriors’ chariots. The five sons of Draupadī bear banners adorned with divine emblems, and Abhimanyu’s chariot is distinguished by a brilliant golden banner featuring a bird emblem, emphasizing his prominence among the fighters.