Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
अविध्येतां शरैस्ती3्ष्णैस्तदद्धभुतमिवाभवत् । माताको आनन्दित करनेवाले माद्रीकुमार नकुल और सहदेवने अपने मामा शल्यको पैने बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया। यह अद्भुत-सी बात हुई
sañjaya uvāca | avidhyetāṃ śarais tīkṣṇais tad adbhutam ivābhavat |
قال سنجيا: «إن ناكولا وسهاديفا—ابنا مادري ومبعث سرور أمهما—قد طعنا خالهما شاليا بسهام حادة. فبدت الواقعة كأنها أمرٌ عجيب.»
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the moral tragedy of war: even revered family ties (nephews and maternal uncle) can be overridden by battlefield allegiance and the perceived demands of kṣatriya duty, making such violence feel 'adbhuta'—astonishing and unsettling.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the twin Pāṇḍava brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, strike their maternal uncle Śalya with sharp arrows, an unexpected and remarkable moment amid the fighting.