Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 35
Adhyāya 61: Saṃmohana-astra and the Kuru Withdrawal (संमोहनास्त्रं तथा कुरुनिवृत्तिः)
तस्य जिष्णुरुपावृत्य ध्वजं मूलादपातयत् । विकृष्य कलधौताग्रै: स विद्ध: प्रापतद् भुवि
tasya jiṣṇur upāvṛtya dhvajaṁ mūlād apātayat | vikṛṣya kaladhautāgraiḥ sa viddhaḥ prāpatad bhuvi ||
ครั้นแล้วจิษณุ (อรชุน) หันรถศึกกลับเข้าหาเขา ฟันธงชัยให้ขาดล้มลงตั้งแต่โคน ถูกลูกศรปลายสุกปลั่งดุจทองคำบริสุทธิ์ทิ่มแทงจนพรุน ธงนั้นก็ร่วงลงสู่พื้นปฐพี
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in righteous warfare, symbolic targets like a banner can be struck to weaken the opponent’s morale and command-signals; it reflects disciplined valor and tactical clarity within kṣatriya-dharma rather than indiscriminate violence.
Arjuna (called Jiṣṇu) turns toward the opponent and shoots so as to sever the enemy’s standard at its base; pierced by the arrows, the banner collapses and falls to the ground.