Mahabharata 7.92.20 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 92, Shloka 20
द्रोणपर्व — द्विनवति-तमोऽध्यायः
Sātyaki Pressed by Kauravas; Duryodhana and Kṛtavarmā Engagements
गजस्कन्धगतानां च पुरुषाणां किरीटिना । छिद्यन्ते चोत्तमाड़ानि भल्लै: संनतपर्वभि:,किरीटधारी अर्जुन झुकी हुई गाँठवाले भलल नामक बाणोंद्वारा हाथीकी पीठपर बैठे हुए पुरुषोंके मस्तक भी धड़ाधड़ काटते जा रहे थे
gajaskandhagatānāṁ ca puruṣāṇāṁ kirīṭinā | chidyante cottamāṅgāni bhallaiḥ saṁnataparvabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Mit seinem gekrönten Helm fuhr Arjuna fort, die Köpfe der Krieger auf den Elefantenrücken abzutrennen, sie in rascher Folge niederzumähen mit Bhalla-Pfeilen, deren Gelenke gebogen waren—ein Bild unerbittlicher Kriegskunst inmitten der düsteren Ethik des Schlachtens.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: extraordinary skill and resolve can be exercised in service of one’s side, yet the scene also highlights the moral weight of violence—heroism and horror coexist on the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, identified by his diadem/helmet, is striking down warriors positioned atop elephants, severing their heads with specialized bhalla arrows, indicating a decisive and fearsome phase of combat.
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