Shloka 246
भीष्मसेनासंनिवेशः — Bhīṣma’s Mobilization, Omens, and the Kaurava Array
केतुराचार्यमुख्यस्य द्रोणस्य धनुषा सह | आचार्यप्रवर द्रोणकी पताकापर कमण्डलुविभूषित सुवर्णमयी वेदी और धनुषके चिह्न बने हुए थे
ketur ācāryamukhyasya droṇasya dhanuṣā saha | ācāryapravara-droṇasya patākāyāṃ kamaṇḍalu-vibhūṣitā suvarṇamayī vedī ca dhanuṣaś-cihnāni ca babhūvuḥ ||
三阇耶说道：诸师之首德罗那的旗帜上，绘有一座饰以水罐（kamaṇḍalu）的金色祭坛，并兼有弓之徽记——昭示他虽为受人敬仰的导师，却已踏入战场，而仍携带学道与自律的象征。此象征凸显《摩诃婆罗多》的伦理张力：即便奉身教诲与克制之人，当责任与效忠相逼，也会被卷入战争。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical complexity of dharma in wartime: Droṇa, an eminent teacher associated with discipline and sacred learning (suggested by the kamaṇḍalu and altar emblem), nevertheless fights as a warrior. It suggests that social roles and personal ideals can be strained by obligations of loyalty and duty, a recurring Mahābhārata theme.
Sañjaya is describing the identifying marks on Droṇa’s battle standard. The banner displays specific emblems—an altar, a kamaṇḍalu, and a bow—so that warriors and listeners can recognize Droṇa’s presence and stature on the battlefield.