Shloka 34
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
ततोअस्य विमलं द्रौणि: शतचन्द्रं मनोरमम् । चर्माच्छिनदर्सि चास्य खण्डयामास संयुगे,तब अअभश्वत्थामाने सौ चन्द्राकार चिह्लोंसे सुशोभित शिखण्डीकी परम सुन्दर ढाल और चमकीली तलवारको युद्धस्थलमें टूक-टूक कर दिया
tato ’sya vimalaṃ drauṇiḥ śatacandraṃ manoramam | carmāc chinad asiṃ cāsya khaṇḍayāmāsa saṃyuge ||
قال سنجيا: ثم إن دراوني (أشفَتّامان)، في خضم القتال، حطَّم ترسَ خصمه النقيَّ البهيَّ—المزيَّن بمئة نتوء كالأقمار—وقطع سيفه أيضًا، فكسَّر السلاحَ إلى قطعٍ متناثرة.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic where victory is pursued by neutralizing an opponent’s weapons; it reflects the harsh, duty-bound reality of kṣatriya warfare, while implicitly reminding readers that martial skill operates within (and sometimes strains) the wider framework of dharma.
Sañjaya describes Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā) cutting and shattering the opponent’s ornate shield (with many moon-like bosses) and also breaking the opponent’s sword during the fight.