Shloka 57
शल्यपरिघातः (Śalya Under Encirclement) — Mahābhārata, Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 12
Devanagari script
पाण्डुपुत्रेण वै तस्य केतुं छिन्न॑ महात्मना
Transliteration
pāṇḍuputreṇa vai tasya ketuṃ chinnaṃ mahātmanā
Translation
三阇耶说道：那位伟大的般度之子果然斩落了他的旗帜——此举在战斗之中既显出战术上的驾驭，也显出道义上的坚决：不离武士之职而摧折敌人的傲气。
Word by Word
पाण्डु-पुत्रेणby the son of Pāṇḍu
पाण्डु-पुत्रेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपाण्डुपुत्र
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
वैindeed / surely
वै:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै
तस्यof him / his
तस्य:
Sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
केतुम्banner / standard
केतुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकेतु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
छिन्नम्cut off / severed
छिन्नम्:
TypeVerb
Rootछिद्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Accusative, Singular
महात्मनाby the great-souled (one)
महात्मना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
संजय (Sañjaya)प
पाण्डुपुत्र (a son of Pāṇḍu; a Pāṇḍava)क
केतु (banner/standard)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
In a dharmic war narrative, striking the enemy’s standard symbolizes undermining arrogance and morale while still acting within a warrior’s duty—courage joined with disciplined purpose rather than cruelty.
Sañjaya reports that a Pāṇḍava hero severs the opponent’s banner (ketu), a battlefield moment indicating dominance and a turning of momentum against the enemy.