Shloka 25
Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra
Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
स राजतो महास्कन्धस्तालो हेमविभूषित: । सौभद्रविशिखैश्छिन्न: पपात भुवि भारत,भरतनन्दन! वह रजतनिर्मित, स्वर्णभूषित अत्यन्त ऊँचा ताल-चिह्से युक्त भीष्मका ध्वज सुभद्राकुमारके बाणोंसे छिन्न-भिन्न होकर पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
sa rājato mahāskandhas tālo hemavibhūṣitaḥ | saubhadra-viśikhaiś chinnaḥ papāta bhuvi bhārata bharatanandana ||
ହେ ଭାରତ! ରୌପ୍ୟସଦୃଶ ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ମହାଦଣ୍ଡଯୁକ୍ତ, ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣଭୂଷିତ, ତାଳ-ଚିହ୍ନଧାରୀ ଭୀଷ୍ମଙ୍କ ସେହି ଉଚ୍ଚ ଧ୍ୱଜ ସୌଭଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ଶରରେ ଛିନ୍ନଭିନ୍ନ ହୋଇ ଭୂମିରେ ପଡ଼ିଲା।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in a dharma-framed war narrative, outward symbols of power (a commander’s banner) can fall through focused skill and courage. It underscores impermanence of martial glory and the ethical weight of disciplined action aimed at a clear battlefield purpose rather than mere destruction.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a tall, silver-like, gold-adorned standard bearing a palm-tree emblem is cut by Saubhadra’s (Abhimanyu’s) arrows and falls to the ground—an emphatic battlefield moment indicating a setback to the side associated with that banner.