Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 65
Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna-yuddha (द्रोण-धृष्टद्युम्न-युद्धम्) — Tactical duel and allied interventions
शकुनि: प्रतिविन्ध्यं तु प्रतिविध्यन्तमाहवे । व्यदारयन्महाप्राज्ञ: शरै: संनतपर्वभि:,युद्धमें अपनेको बेधनेवाले प्रतिविन्ध्यको भी परम बुद्धिमान् शकुनिने झुके हुए गाँठवाले बाणोंसे घायल कर दिया
śakuniḥ prativindhyaṃ tu pratividhyantam āhave | vyadārayat mahāprājñaḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, as Prativindhya was striking at him, the highly intelligent Śakuni countered by piercing and rending Prativindhya with arrows whose joints were bent.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethic of battlefield reciprocity: an attacker is met with an effective counterattack. It also emphasizes that in war, intelligence and tactical execution (mahāprājñaḥ) can be as decisive as physical courage.
During the battle, Prativindhya is actively striking at Śakuni. Śakuni responds by wounding him severely with specially described arrows (saṃnata-parvabhiḥ), and Sañjaya reports this exchange as part of the ongoing combat narration.