Shloka 69
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
तस्य द्रोण: पुनश्नापं चिच्छेदामित्रकर्शन: । हयांश्न चतुरस्तूर्ण चतुर्भि: सायकोत्तमै:,तब शत्रुसूदन द्रोणने पुनः धृष्टद्युम्मका धनुष काट दिया और चार उत्तम सायकोंद्वारा उनके चारों घोड़ोंको तुरंत ही भयानक यमलोकको भेज दिया। भारत! फिर एक भल्ल्लके द्वारा उनके सारथिको भी मृत्युके हवाले कर दिया
tasya droṇaḥ punaḥ śnāpam ciccheda amitrakarśanaḥ | hayāṃś ca caturas tūrṇaṃ caturbhiḥ sāyakottamaiḥ |
Sañjaya said: Then Droṇa, the subduer of foes, once again cut down his bow; and with four excellent arrows he swiftly struck down his four horses, sending them to death. Thereafter, with a sharp bhalla-arrow, he also dispatched the charioteer to his end.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical reality of war: strategic skill aims not only at the warrior but also at the chariot-system (bow, horses, charioteer) that enables combat. It reflects how kṣatriya warfare prioritizes disabling an opponent’s capacity to fight, even when that entails lethal force against supporting roles.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa severs the opponent’s bow again, then with four superb arrows quickly kills the four horses, and finally kills the charioteer with a bhalla-type arrow—effectively immobilizing and neutralizing the enemy chariot.