Shloka 22
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
नकुल: समरे शक्ति सहदेवो गदां शुभाम् | धर्मराज: शतघ्नीं च जिघांसु: शल्यमाहवे,भीमसेनने प्रज्वलित सर्पके समान नाराच चलाया, नकुलने संग्रामभूमिमें शल्यपर शक्ति छोड़ी, सहदेवने सुन्दर गदा चलायी और धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने रणक्षेत्रमें शल्यको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे उनपर शतघ्नीका प्रहार किया
sañjaya uvāca | nakulaḥ samare śaktiṃ sahadevo gadāṃ śubhām | dharmarājaḥ śataghnīṃ ca jighāṃsuḥ śalyam āhave | bhīmasenena prajvalita-sarpaka-samānān nārācān pracālitān | nakulena saṅgrāma-bhūmau śalye prati śaktiḥ kṣiptā | sahadevena sundarā gadā pracālitā | dharmarājena yudhiṣṭhireṇa raṇa-kṣetre śalyaṃ hantum icchatā śataghnī-praghātaḥ kṛtaḥ |
Sañjaya sprach: Mitten im Getümmel schleuderte Nakula den Speer; Sahadeva warf eine prächtige Keule; und Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, entschlossen, Śalya im Kampf zu töten, traf ihn mit einer śataghnī. Bhīmasena sandte, einem flammenden Schlangenwesen gleich, scharfe Pfeile aus. So setzten die Pāṇḍava, ein jeder mit seiner erwählten Waffe, ihren gerechten Entschluss inmitten der harten Forderungen des Krieges in die Tat um.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is framed by intention and duty: the Pāṇḍavas act with focused resolve against a formidable foe, illustrating kṣatriya responsibility under dharma—decisive action undertaken for a perceived just cause, not for mere cruelty.
Sañjaya describes a coordinated assault on Śalya: Nakula hurls a spear, Sahadeva swings/launches a mace, Yudhiṣṭhira strikes with a śataghnī intending to kill Śalya, and Bhīma releases fierce arrows likened to a blazing serpent.