Shloka 28
गन्धर्वनगराकारान् विधिवत्कल्पितान् रथान् | शरैविशकलीकुर्वश्रक्रे व्यश्वरथद्विपान्,उन्होंने गन्धर्वनगरोंके समान प्रतीत होनेवाले और विधिवत् सजे हुए रथोंके अपने बाणोंद्वारा टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर दिये और शत्रुओंको हाथी, घोड़े एवं रथोंसे वंचित कर दिये
gandharvanagarākārān vidhivat kalpitān rathān | śaraiś ca vikaḷīkṛtvā śakre vyasvarathadvipān ||
Sañjaya said: With his arrows he shattered into fragments the duly arrayed chariots that looked like the wondrous cities of the Gandharvas, and he stripped the enemy of their chariots and elephants—breaking their martial pride and the very supports of their power in battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how outward splendor and carefully arranged power (the chariots likened to a Gandharva-city) can be swiftly undone in war; it underscores the fragility of material might and the ethical gravity of kṣatriya conflict where victory often comes by disabling the enemy’s means rather than mere display.
Sañjaya describes a warrior’s feat in battle: using arrows, he breaks apart the enemy’s well-equipped chariots and effectively deprives them of key components of their army—chariots, elephants, and horses—thereby crippling their fighting capacity.