Shloka 236
धनुरेकेन चिच्छेद हसन् राजन् महारथ: । राजन्! तब महारथी कृतवर्माने अत्यन्त कुपित हो साठ बाणोंसे शिखण्डीको घायल करके एकसे हँसते-हँसते उसका धनुष काट डाला
sañjaya uvāca | dhanur ekena ciccheda hasan rājan mahārathaḥ |
সঞ্জয়ে ক’লে—ৰাজন! তেতিয়া মহাৰথী কৃতৱৰ্মা অতিশয় ক্ৰুদ্ধ হৈ শিখণ্ডীক ষাঠিটা বাণে বিদ্ধ কৰি, হাঁহি হাঁহিয়েই এটা বাণে তাৰ ধনুখন ছিন্ন কৰিলে।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the dharma of battle, superior skill is often expressed by disabling an opponent’s means of combat (here, cutting the bow). The warrior’s smile underscores confidence and the psychological dimension of warfare, while also reminding the listener that war can normalize harsh acts when framed as duty.
Sanjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a great warrior, in the midst of combat, cuts an enemy’s bow with a single arrow while smiling—signaling dominance and immediately reducing the opponent’s fighting capability.