Shloka 53
आर्य! तब महाबली पाण्डवसेनापतिने भी कुपित होकर दुर्योधनके धनुषको काट दिया और शीघ्रतापूर्वक उसके चारों घोड़ोंको भी मार डाला। तत्पश्चात् अत्यन्त तीखे सात बाणोंद्वारा तुरंत ही दुर्योधनको घायल कर दिया ।। सहताश्वान्महाबाहुरवप्लुत्य रथाद् बली । पदातिरसिमुद्यम्य प्राद्रवत् पार्षतं प्रति,घोड़े मारे जानेपर बलवान महाबाहु दुर्योधन अपने रथसे कूद पड़ा और तलवार उठाकर धृष्टद्युम्मनकी ओर पैदल ही दौड़ा
sañjaya uvāca |
ārya! tadā mahābalī pāṇḍava-senāpatināpi kupitaḥ san duryodhanasya dhanuḥ ciccheda, śīghratayā ca tasya catvāro 'śvān apātayat | tataḥ param atyanta-tīkṣṇaiḥ saptabhir bāṇaiḥ kṣaṇād eva duryodhanaṃ vyathayām āsa ||
sahatāśvān mahābāhur avaplutya rathād balī |
padātir asim udyamya prādravat pārṣataṃ prati ||
Sañjaya said: “O noble one, then the mighty commander of the Pāṇḍava host, enraged, cut down Duryodhana’s bow and swiftly slew his four horses. Thereafter, with seven exceedingly sharp arrows, he at once wounded Duryodhana. When his horses had been killed, the strong-armed, powerful Duryodhana leapt down from his chariot; on foot, raising his sword, he ran straight toward Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the son of Pṛṣata.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya resolve under pressure: when conventional means (chariot and bow) are neutralized, a warrior is expected to continue the fight with courage and presence of mind. Ethically, it also shows how anger and honor can drive escalation from ranged combat to lethal close-quarters engagement.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāṇḍava commander, cuts Duryodhana’s bow, kills his four horses, and wounds him with seven sharp arrows. With his chariot disabled, Duryodhana jumps down, draws his sword, and charges on foot toward Dhṛṣṭadyumna.