Shloka 58
अध्याय १४८ — कर्णप्रभावः, धृष्टद्युम्नस्य विरथता, तथा घटोत्कच-आह्वानम्
Chapter 148: Karṇa’s Pressure, Dhṛṣṭadyumna Unhorsed, and the Summoning of Ghaṭotkaca
अष्टभिवाजिनो<विध्यद् ध्वजं चैकेन पत्रिणा । तीन बाणोंसे श्रीकृष्णको, छः नाराचोंसे अर्जुनको तथा आठ बाणोंसे घोड़ोंको घायल करके जयद्रथने एक बाणसे अर्जुनकी ध्वजाको भी बींध डाला || ५७ $ ।। स विक्षिप्यार्जुनस्तूर्ण सैन्धवप्रहितान् शरान्,परंतु अर्जुनने तुरंत ही जयद्रथके चलाये हुए बाणोंको काट गिराया और एक ही साथ दो बाणोंसे सिंधुराजके सारथिका सिर तथा अलंकारोंसे सुशोभित उसका ध्वज भी काट डाला
sañjaya uvāca | aṣṭabhivājino 'vidhyad dhvajaṃ caikena patriṇā | sa vikṣipyārjunas tūrṇaṃ saindhavaprahitān śarān |
Sañjaya said: Jayadratha struck Arjuna’s horses with eight arrows and pierced Arjuna’s banner with a single feathered shaft. But Arjuna swiftly intercepted and cut down the arrows released by the king of Sindhu; then, in one continuous counterstroke, he severed with two arrows both the head of Jayadratha’s charioteer and the chariot’s ornamented standard.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the kshatriya ethic of alertness and decisive response in battle: aggression is met with immediate counteraction to protect one’s side. It also reflects how dharma in war can become a tense balance between restraint and necessity, where tactical protection and justice-driven retaliation dominate the moment.
Jayadratha attacks Arjuna’s team—wounding the horses and piercing the banner. Arjuna instantly cuts down the incoming arrows and retaliates by killing Jayadratha’s charioteer and cutting down his decorated standard, signaling a sharp reversal of momentum.