Shloka 566
शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement
असज्जन्तस्तनुत्रेषु शरौघा: प्रापतन् भुवि । सव्यसाची अर्जुनद्वारा समरभूमिमें बाणोंसे आच्छादित होनेवाले सैनिकोंके कवचोंपर उनके बाण अटकते नहीं थे। वे चोट करके पृथ्वीपर गिर जाते थे
asa jjantastanutreṣu śaraughāḥ prāpatan bhuvi |
সব্যসাচী অর্জুনের শরবৃষ্টিতে সমরভূমি আচ্ছন্ন হয়ে উঠলেও সৈনিকদের কবচে সেই শরগুলি আটকে থাকত না; আঘাত করে তারা মাটিতে পড়ে যেত।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the relentless, impersonal mechanics of war: skill and force can render protection ineffective, reminding the listener that in kṣatriya-conflict, outcomes hinge on prowess and fate rather than mere external safeguards.
Sañjaya describes a moment of intense combat where volleys of arrows strike warriors’ armour yet do not remain embedded; instead, they fall to the ground after impact, emphasizing the density of missile-fire and the dominance of the archer’s assault.