Shloka 2
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
संछिद्य चापानि च तानि राज्ञां तेषां रणे वीर्यवतां क्षणेन | विव्याध बाणैर्युगपन्महात्मा निःशेषतां तेष्वथ मन्यमान:,रणक्षेत्रमें उन पराक्रमी नरेशोंके धनुषोंको क्षणभरमें काटकर महामना अर्जुनने उनका पूर्णतः संहार कर देनेकी इच्छासे एक ही साथ सबको अपने बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया
saṃchidya cāpāni ca tāni rājñāṃ teṣāṃ raṇe vīryavatāṃ kṣaṇena | vivyādha bāṇair yugapan mahātmā niḥśeṣatāṃ teṣv atha manyamānaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Mitten in der Schlacht zerschnitt der großgesinnte Arjuna im Nu die Bogen jener Könige, die an Tapferkeit mächtig waren; und dann, entschlossen, sie gänzlich zu vernichten, verwundete er sie alle zugleich mit seinen Pfeilen.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intention (manyamānaḥ) shapes action in war: skill and speed can neutralize opponents instantly, but the stated aim of 'niḥśeṣatā' (total destruction) foregrounds the moral strain in righteous warfare—whether force is used merely to disable or to annihilate.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, in the thick of combat, swiftly severs the bows of several valorous kings and simultaneously wounds them with arrows, acting with the intention of completely finishing them off.