Shloka 20
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
ताञ्शराज्शकुनिस्तूर्ण चिच्छेदान्यै: पतत्रिभि: । लघ्वस्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च जितकाशी च संयुगे
tāñ śarāñ śakunīs tūrṇaṃ cicchedānyaiḥ patatribhiḥ | laghv-astraś citra-yodhī ca jita-kāśī ca saṃyuge ||
قال سنجيا: فقطع شكوني تلك السهام سريعًا بسهامٍ أخرى مُريَّشة. كان خاطفًا في استعمال السلاح، بارعًا في ضروبٍ شتّى من القتال، متلألئًا بثقة الظفر في ساحة الوغى؛ فصدَّ مقذوفات سوتاسوما بسهامه الحادّة، ثم—وقد استبدّ به الغضب—جرح سوتاسوما بثلاثة سهام.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield excellence (speed, tactical variety, accurate countering) can be immediately overtaken by anger, turning defense into punitive retaliation. It implicitly warns that skill without restraint easily becomes cruelty, intensifying the cycle of violence.
Sañjaya describes Śakuni countering Sutasoma’s attack: he quickly slices Sutasoma’s incoming arrows with his own, demonstrating rapid weapon-use and tactical versatility. After neutralizing the missiles, he becomes enraged and strikes Sutasoma with three arrows.