Shloka 20
दण्डधारवधः | The Slaying of Daṇḍadhāra
प्रतिविन्ध्यस्ततश्रित्रं भित्ता पठचभिराशुगै: । सारथिं च त्रिभिरविंद्ध्वा ध्वजमेकेषुणापि च
prativindhyas tataḥ śitraṃ bhittvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ | sārathiṃ ca tribhir avindhyā dhvajam ekeṣuṇāpi ca ||
Sañjaya sprach: Da durchbohrte Prativindhya mit fünf schnellen Pfeilen den Harnisch des Gegners, traf den Wagenlenker mit weiteren drei und verwundete mit einem einzigen Pfeil auch das Banner. Es war eine eindringliche Demonstration von Präzision inmitten der unerbittlichen Ethik des Schlachtfeldhandwerks, wo Tüchtigkeit an beherrschter Kraft gemessen wird, nicht an bloßer Wut.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial excellence: even in war, a warrior’s power is shown through precision and control—piercing armor, targeting the charioteer, and striking the banner—rather than uncontrolled violence.
Sañjaya reports that Prativindhya shoots a sequence of arrows: five to pierce the opponent’s armor, three to wound the charioteer, and one to strike the chariot’s banner, signaling dominance in the ongoing battle.