Shloka 56

शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12

Devanagari script

ध्वजाग्रं चास्य समरे कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर:

Transliteration

dhvajāgraṃ cāsya samare kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Translation

సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—సమరంలో కుంతీపుత్రుడు యుధిష్ఠిరుడు అతని ధ్వజాగ్రాన్ని బాణంతో కొట్టాడు.

Word by Word

• ध्वजाग्रम्: the top of the banner/standard
• ध्वजाग्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वजाग्र
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• अस्य: of him/this (his)
• अस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• समरे: in battle
• समरे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: समर
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• कुन्तीपुत्रः: Kunti's son
• कुन्तीपुत्रः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुन्तीपुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhishthira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Yudhiṣṭhira
• Kuntī
• dhvaja (banner/standard)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even within warfare, actions often target symbols of honor and morale (like a banner) rather than only bodily harm; the verse highlights how prestige and psychological strength function as ethical and strategic dimensions of kṣatriya conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports that Yudhiṣṭhira, identified as Kuntī’s son, in the midst of battle struck the crest/top of his opponent’s banner—signaling a direct challenge and an attempt to weaken the enemy’s standing and confidence.