Shloka 56
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
शकुनिं दशभिर्विद्धवा चतुर्भिश्वास्य वाजिन: । छत्र॑ ध्वजं धनुश्चास्य च्छित्त्वा सिंह इवानदत्,योद्धाओंमें श्रेष्ठ सहदेव अत्यन्त दुर्जय वीर हैं। उन्होंने क्रोधसे चलते हुए-से पास जाकर अपने धनुषको बलपूर्वक खींचा और दस बाणोंसे शकुनिको घायल करके चार बाणोंसे उसके घोड़ोंको भी बींध डाला। तत्पश्चात् उसके छत्र, ध्वज और धनुषको भी काटकर सिंहके समान गर्जना की
sañjaya uvāca | śakunim daśabhir viddhvā caturbhiś cāsya vājinaḥ | chatraṃ dhvajaṃ dhanuś cāsya chittvā siṃha ivānadat |
Sanjaya said: Sahadeva, foremost among warriors and exceedingly hard to overcome, advanced in wrath and, drawing his bow with force, pierced Shakuni with ten arrows and struck his horses with four more. Then, cutting down his parasol, banner, and bow, he roared like a lion—an act meant to break the enemy’s pride and fighting capacity in the midst of righteous battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In the battlefield setting, the verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as decisive action against an adversary: not only injuring the opponent but also disabling his means of combat and symbols of authority (parasol, banner, bow). Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring theme that victory in war depends on both valor and strategy, while pride and power are symbolically dismantled.
Sahadeva closes in on Shakuni, shoots him with ten arrows, strikes his horses with four arrows, then cuts down Shakuni’s parasol, banner, and bow. After stripping these signs of status and capability, Sahadeva roars like a lion, signaling dominance and attempting to demoralize the enemy side.