Shloka 73
Droṇa–Arjuna Yuddha; Trigarta-Āvaraṇa; Bhīmasena Gajānīka-bheda
Droṇa and Arjuna Engage; Trigarta Containment; Bhīma Breaks the Elephant Corps
बिभेद दक्षिण बाहूं क्षत्रदेवस्य चाहवे । पपात सहसा तस्य सशरं धनुरुत्तमम्,फिर तीन बाणोंसे अभिमन्युको और पाँचसे केकयराजकुमारोंको घायल किया। तत्पश्चात् धनुषको अच्छी तरह खींचकर छोड़े हुए झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणके द्वारा उन्होंने युद्धमें क्षत्रदेवकी दाहिनी बाँह काट डाली। उसके कटनेके साथ ही सहसा उनका बाणसहित उत्तम धनुष पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
sañjaya uvāca |
bibheda dakṣiṇa-bāhuṁ kṣatradevasya cāhave |
papāta sahasā tasya saśaraṁ dhanur uttamam ||
Mitten im Kampf zerschmetterte er Kṣatradevas rechten Arm; und sogleich glitt dessen vortrefflicher Bogen — noch mit aufgelegtem Pfeil — aus der Hand und fiel zu Boden.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the fragility of worldly strength in war: martial prowess can vanish instantly when the body’s support is destroyed. Ethically, it reflects the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare, where skill and fate rapidly overturn status and security.
Sanjaya reports that a warrior strikes Kṣatradeva in battle, shattering/cutting his right arm. As a result, Kṣatradeva’s excellent bow—still with an arrow—drops suddenly to the ground, signaling his immediate disablement in combat.