Shloka 91

Devanagari script

इन्द्रध्वज इवोत्सृष्ट: केतु: सर्वधनुष्मताम्‌ | धरणीं न स पस्पर्श शरसंघै: समावृत:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca | indradhvaja ivotsṛṣṭaḥ ketuḥ sarvadhanuṣmatām | dharaṇīṃ na sa pasparśa śarasaṅghaiḥ samāvṛtaḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：如因陀罗旗杆被斩断而抛掷，那位在诸弓手中堪为旗帜的第一人轰然倒下，使大地震响。然而他虽已倒下，却未触地，因为其身四面皆为密集箭簇所覆。此景凸显战争可怖的代价：连最伟大者也会被击倒，而勇武本身竟成了受苦的景观。

Word by Word

• इन्द्रध्वजः: Indra’s banner/standard
• इन्द्रध्वजः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रध्वज
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like, as
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• उत्सृष्टः: cast down, let fall
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्सृज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• केतुः: banner; emblem (here: standard/flag)
• केतुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वधनुष्मताम्: of all bowmen/archers
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्वधनुष्मत्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• धरणीम्: the earth/ground
• धरणीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पस्पर्श: touched
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शरसंघैः: with masses/volleys of arrows
• शरसंघैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरसंघ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• समावृतः: covered, enveloped
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + आवृ
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Indra
• Indra’s banner (indradhvaja)
• Ketu (standard/banner)
• Arrows (śara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the grim ethical reality of war: even the most eminent warrior is reduced to a body pinned by arrows. It invites reflection on the cost of kṣatriya glory and the suffering that accompanies martial duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes a great warrior—implicitly Bhīṣma in this episode—falling like a cut-down banner. His body is so densely transfixed by arrows that, even after falling, he does not physically touch the earth.