Shloka 28
Chapter 12: Arjuna’s suppression of the Saṃśaptakas and duel with Aśvatthāmā
Drauṇi
व्यपसृत्य तु नागाभ्यां मण्डलानि विचेरतु: । प्रगृह्ा चोभी धनुषी जध्नतुर्वे परस्परम्,फिर हाथियोंद्वारा ही पीछे हटकर वे दोनों मण्डलाकार विचरने और धनुष लेकर एक- दूसरेपर बाणोंका प्रहार करने लगे तावन्योन्यस्य समरे संछिद्य धनुषी शुभे । हत्वा च सारथी तूर्ण हयांश्ष रथिनां वरी
vyapasṛtya tu nāgābhyāṃ maṇḍalāni viceratuḥ | pragṛhya cobhī dhanuṣī jaghnatur vai parasparam || tāv anyonyasya samare saṃchिद्य dhanuṣī śubhe | hatvā ca sārathī tūṛṇaṃ hayāṃś ca rathināṃ varī ||
Sañjaya sprach: Von den Elefanten zurückweichend, begannen die beiden Krieger im Kreis zu kreisen. Sie ergriffen ihre Bögen und trafen einander mit Salven von Pfeilen. In jener Schlacht zerschlug jeder den prächtigen Bogen des anderen; und der Vortrefflichste unter den Wagenkämpfern erschlug rasch den gegnerischen Wagenlenker und die Pferde.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare tends to escalate: once direct exchanges begin, combatants aim not only to wound but to disable the opponent’s capacity to fight (breaking bows, killing charioteer and horses). Ethically, it reflects the harsh logic of kṣatriya-battle where victory is pursued through tactical dismantling, raising implicit questions about the cost of glory and the momentum of violence.
Two warriors withdraw from their elephants, circle tactically, and exchange arrow-strikes with bows. Each breaks the other’s bow; then the leading chariot-fighter quickly kills the opponent’s charioteer and horses, crippling the enemy chariot’s effectiveness.