Shloka 55
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
अथाप्लुत्य रथात् तूर्ण यूपकेतुरमित्रहा । साश्व॒सूतध्वजरथं तं चकर्त वरासिना,यह देख यूपके चिह्नसे सुशोभित ध्वजवाले शत्रुसूदन भूरिश्रवाने तुरंत ही रथसे कूदकर लंबी तलवारसे घोड़े, सारथि, ध्वज एवं रथसहित राजा मणिमान्को काट डाला
athāplutya rathāt tūrṇaṃ yūpaketur amitrahā | sāśva-sūta-dhvaja-rathaṃ taṃ cacarta varāsinā ||
Sañjaya sprach: Dann sprang Yūpaketu, der Feinderschläger, rasch von seinem Wagen herab und hieb jenen Krieger samt Pferden, Lenker, Banner und Wagen mit einem herrlichen Schwert nieder.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethical tension of kṣatriya warfare: martial excellence is praised, yet the means is total destruction. It invites reflection on how duty and victory in war can demand actions that are effective but morally heavy.
Sañjaya reports that Yūpaketu jumps down from his chariot and, with a fine sword, cuts down his opponent along with the entire chariot apparatus—horses, charioteer, banner, and chariot—neutralizing the enemy’s fighting capacity at once.