Shloka 17
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
अथापराशभ्यां भल्लाभ्यां शिताभ्यामरिमर्दन: । ध्वजमेकेन चिच्छेद पा्णिमेकेन सारथिम्
athāparāśabhyāṃ bhallābhyāṃ śitābhyām arimardanaḥ | dhvajam ekena ciccheda pāṇim ekena sārathim ||
Sañjaya said: Then the foe-crushing warrior, with two keen bhalla arrows, severed the banner with one, and with the other struck down the charioteer’s arm.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in a dharmic war context, martial excellence is expressed through targeted action: cutting the banner (a symbol of command and morale) and disabling the charioteer (a functional support) to neutralize an opponent. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between heroic skill and the harsh ethical weight of violence.
Sañjaya describes a warrior (called ‘arimardana’) using two sharp arrows: one severs the enemy’s chariot-banner, and the other strikes the charioteer’s arm, impairing the chariot’s control and signaling a tactical advantage in the ongoing battle.