Shloka 42
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
क्षुरै: क्षुरप्रैर्भल्लैश्व पीतैश्वाउजलिकै: शितै: । व्यहरन्नुत्तमाज़ानि पाण्डवा गजयोधिनाम्
kṣuraiḥ kṣuraprair bhallaiś ca pītaiś cāñjalikaiḥ śitaiḥ | vyaharan uttamāṅgāni pāṇḍavā gajayodhinām ||
Sañjaya said: With razor-edged shafts—kṣura and kṣurapra—along with yellow-hued bhalla darts and sharp āñjalika missiles, the Pāṇḍava warriors struck the elephant-mounted fighters, severing heads and casting them down.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma in war: martial excellence is exercised toward decisive outcomes, yet the narration implicitly reminds the listener of the grave human cost and the moral weight carried by those who fight.
Sañjaya reports that the Pāṇḍava fighters, using several named types of sharp arrows, are cutting down elephant-mounted warriors by striking and severing their heads.