Shloka 6
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
नकुल: पज्चभिश्लैनं सहदेवश्व॒ पञ्चभि: । विद्ध्वा तं तु पुनस्तूर्ण ततो विव्याध सप्तभि:
nakulaḥ pañcabhiś cainaṃ sahadevaś ca pañcabhiḥ | viddhvā taṃ tu punas tūrṇaṃ tato vivyādha saptabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Nakula traf ihn mit fünf Pfeilen, und Sahadeva ebenso mit fünf. Nachdem sie ihn so durchbohrt hatten, verwundeten sie ihn sogleich weiter—dann mit sieben weiteren Pfeilen—und setzten den Angriff ohne Unterlass in der Wut der Schlacht fort.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfastness and coordinated effort in battle: once an opponent is engaged, the warriors act decisively and without hesitation. Ethically, it reflects the epic’s portrayal of duty-driven action within the harsh necessities of war, rather than personal cruelty.
Sañjaya describes a rapid exchange in the battlefield: Nakula and Sahadeva strike their opponent with volleys of arrows—first five each, then again swiftly, followed by seven more—intensifying pressure and demonstrating synchronized martial skill.