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 ||
تب جِشنو ارجن نے رتھ کو گھما کر اس کی طرف رخ کیا اور علم کو جڑ سے کاٹ کر گرا دیا۔ خالص سونے کی طرح دمکتے نوک والے تیروں سے چھلنی ہو کر وہ نشانِ جنگ زمین پر آ گرا۔
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.