Shloka 57
पाणौ पृषत्का लिखिता ममैते धनुश्न दिव्यं विततं सबाणम् | पादौ च मे सरथौ सध्वजौ च न मादृशं युद्धगतं जयन्ति
sañjaya uvāca |
pāṇau pṛṣatkā likhitā mamaite dhanuś ca divyaṃ vitataṃ sabāṇam |
pādau ca me sarathau sadhvajau ca na mādṛśaṃ yuddhagataṃ jayanti ||
सञ्जय उवाच— पाण्योर्ममैते पृषत्कचिह्नानि लिखितानि; धनुषोऽपि दिव्यस्य विततस्य सबाणस्य चिह्नं दृश्यते। पादयोश्च मे सरथध्वजचिह्नानि। मादृशं लक्षणोपेतं योद्धारं युद्धगतं शत्रवो न जयन्ति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the epic motif of bodily auspicious marks as indicators of destiny and martial success: a warrior believed to be marked by fate and merit is portrayed as difficult to defeat, reinforcing confidence, legitimacy, and the perceived moral order behind victory in war.
Sañjaya reports a warrior’s self-description of auspicious signs—arrow and bow marks on the hands, chariot and banner marks on the feet—used as a claim that, once he enters battle, opponents will not be able to conquer him.