Shloka 63
अथीनं छिन्नधन्वानं हताश्वचं हतसारथिम्
athīnaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ hatāśvacaṃ hatasārathim
Sañjaya sprach: Er blieb hilflos zurück — sein Bogen war abgeschlagen, seine Pferde getötet und sein Wagenlenker erschlagen — beraubt der Stützen, durch die ein Krieger im Kampf standhaft bleibt.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly the instruments of agency in war—weapon, mobility, and guidance—can be destroyed, rendering even a capable fighter helpless. Ethically, it points to the harsh reality that battlefield outcomes often hinge on disabling an opponent’s supports rather than only meeting strength with strength.
Sañjaya describes a warrior who has been effectively neutralized: his bow is cut, his horses are killed, and his charioteer is slain. This depicts a decisive turn in combat, where the opponent is left vulnerable and unable to fight in the usual chariot-war mode.