ये त्वदीया महेष्वासा राजानो भरतर्षभ ॥
अवर्तन्त यथादेशं राजञ् शांतनवस्य ते ॥
स तु गोवासनः शैब्यः सहितः सर्वराजभिः ॥
ययौ मातङ्गराजेन राजार्हेण पताकिना ॥
पद्मवर्णस् त्व् अनीकानां सर्वेषाम् अग्रतः स्थितः ॥
अश्वत्थामा ययौ यत्तः सिंहलाङ्गूलकेतनः ॥
श्रुतायुश् चित्रसेनश् च पुरुमित्रो विविंशतिः ॥
शल्यो भूरिश्रवाश् चैव विकर्णश् च महारथः ॥
एते सप्त महेष्वासा द्रोणपुत्रपुरोगमाः ॥
स्यन्दनैर् वरवर्णाभैर् भीष्मस्यासन् पुरःसराः ॥
तेषाम् अपि महोत्सेधाः शोभयन्तो रथोत्तमान् ॥
भ्राजमाना व्यदृश्यन्त जाम्बूनदमया ध्वजाः ॥
जाम्बूनदमयी वेदिः कमण्डलुविभूषिता ॥
केतुर् आचार्यमुख्यस्य द्रोणस्य धनुषा सह ॥
ye tvadīyā maheṣvāsā rājāno bharatarṣabha ||
avartanta yathādeśaṃ rājañ śāṃtanavasya te ||
sa tu govāsanaḥ śaibyaḥ sahitaḥ sarvarājabhiḥ ||
yayau mātaṅgarājena rājārheṇa patākinā ||
padmavarṇas tv anīkānāṃ sarveṣām agrataḥ sthitaḥ ||
aśvatthāmā yayau yattaḥ siṃhalāṅgūlaketanaḥ ||
śrutāyuś citrasenaś ca purumitro viviṃśatiḥ ||
śalyo bhūriśravāś caiva vikarṇaś ca mahārathaḥ ||
ete sapta maheṣvāsā droṇaputrapurogamāḥ ||
syandanair varavarṇābhair bhīṣmasyāsan puraḥsarāḥ ||
teṣām api mahotsedhāḥ śobhayanto rathottamān ||
bhrājamānā vyadṛśyanta jāmbūnadamayā dhvajāḥ ||
jāmbūnadamayī vediḥ kamaṇḍaluvibhūṣitā ||
ketur ācāryamukhyasya droṇasya dhanuṣā saha ||
Your great bowmen and kings, O bull of the Bharatas, took their positions according to the command of your king, the son of Shantanu. Govasana Shaibya, together with all the kings, went forth on a royal, bannered elephant worthy of a king; lotus-hued, he stood at the front of all the troops. Ashvatthama rode with focus, his banner bearing a lion's tail; beside him were Shrutayus, Chitrasena, Purumitra, Vivimshati, Shalya, Bhurishravas, and the great warrior Vikarna. These seven mighty bowmen, led by the son of Drona, stood on resplendent chariots before Bhishma. Their towering golden banners of Jambunada gold shone, adorning their finest chariots. On the banner of Drona, the chief preceptor, was a golden altar adorned with a water-pot, together with his bow.
32a1426658df · published Jul 17, 2026, 8:47:27 PM UTC
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The Kaurava formation is described through banners and leaders: each emblem declares dignity, lineage, and role within the army. Ashvatthama rides at the head of the group before Bhishma, and Drona's banner with its sacrificial altar recalls that knowledge and sacred standing have here been drawn into the field of war.