Shloka 63
अजिशीर्षे प्रातःसंध्यायां संग्रामवर्णनम् / Dawn-Transition Battle at Ajiśīrṣa
Chapter 161
अथीनं छिन्नधन्वानं हताश्वचं हतसारथिम्
athīnaṃ chinnadhanvānaṃ hatāśvacaṃ hatasārathim
Sañjaya said: He was left helpless—his bow cut away, his horses slain, and his charioteer killed—stripped of the supports by which a warrior stands firm in battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly the instruments of agency in war—weapon, mobility, and guidance—can be destroyed, rendering even a capable fighter helpless. Ethically, it points to the harsh reality that battlefield outcomes often hinge on disabling an opponent’s supports rather than only meeting strength with strength.
Sañjaya describes a warrior who has been effectively neutralized: his bow is cut, his horses are killed, and his charioteer is slain. This depicts a decisive turn in combat, where the opponent is left vulnerable and unable to fight in the usual chariot-war mode.