Shloka 65

भीष्मस्य मध्याह्नयुद्धवर्णनम् / Mid-day Battle Description: Bhīṣma Engaged by the Pāñcālas

Devanagari script

अनुकर्ष: पताकाभिरुपासज्लैर्ध्वजैरपि | प्रवीराणां महाशड्खेैरविंप्रकीर्णैश्व॒ पाण्डुरै:,अनुकर्ष, पताका, उपासंग, ध्वज तथा बड़े-बड़े वीरोंके श्वेत महाशंख बिखरे पड़े थे

Transliteration

anukarṣaḥ patākābhir upāsaṅgair dhvajair api | pravīrāṇāṁ mahāśaṅkhair aviprakīrṇaiś ca pāṇḍuraiḥ ||

Translation

سنجے نے کہا—ہارنیس اور سازوسامان، جھنڈیاں اور علم، اور بڑے بڑے سورماؤں کے سفید مہاشنکھ بھی ہر طرف بکھرے پڑے تھے۔

Word by Word

अनुकर्षःdragging-trace; trail (of something dragged)

पताकाभिःwith banners

उपासङ्गैःwith ornaments/attachments (upāsaṅgas)

ध्वजैःwith flags/standards

अपिalso/even

प्रवीराणाम्of great heroes

महाशङ्खैःwith great conches

अविप्रकीर्णैःscattered about; strewn

चand

पाण्डुरैःwhite/pale

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

patākā (banners/flags)

dhvaja (standards/ensigns)

mahāśaṅkha (great white conches)

pravīra (mighty warriors)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the transience of external marks of power—banners, standards, and war-conches—once battle has raged. Even the symbols that proclaim heroism and command become debris, pointing to the ethical gravity of war and the fragility of worldly glory.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra what is visible on the battlefield: martial equipment and insignia—banners, standards, and the large white conches of renowned warriors—lying scattered, indicating intense fighting and the disarray left in its wake.