Shloka 45
द्रोणनिन्दाश्रवणं तथा सात्यकि–पार्षतविवादः
Hearing the reproach of Droṇa and the Sātyaki–Pārṣata dispute
भरतनन्दन! अर्जुनने सौ बाणोंसे उस राक्षसको घायल कर दिया और नौ तीखे बाणोंसे उसकी ध्वजा काट डाली ।। सारथिं च त्रिभिणिस्त्रिभिरेव त्रिवेणुकम् । धनुरेकेन चिच्छेद चतुर्भि श्वतुरो हयान्,फिर तीन बाणोंसे उसके सारथिको, तीनसे ही रथके त्रिवेणुकी, एकसे उसके धनुषको और चार बाणोंसे चारों घोड़ोंको काट डाला
bharatanandana! arjunena śatabāṇaiḥ sa rākṣaso viddhaḥ, navabhiś ca tīkṣṇabāṇaiḥ tasya dhvajā chinnā. sārathiṃ ca tribhiḥ tribhir eva triveṇukaṃ, dhanur ekena ciccheda, caturbhiś caturaḥ hayān.
Sañjaya said: O scion of Bharata, Arjuna struck that rākṣasa with a hundred arrows and, with nine keen shafts, cut down his banner. Then, with three arrows he felled the charioteer, with three more he severed the chariot’s triveṇuka (a triple-yoked/three-part fitting), with a single arrow he cut the bow, and with four arrows he brought down the four horses.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial conduct: Arjuna neutralizes the opponent by systematically disabling the means of combat (banner, charioteer, chariot fittings, bow, horses). It reflects kṣatriya-dharma as controlled, purposeful force guided by strategy rather than uncontrolled rage.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna overwhelms an unnamed rākṣasa warrior: he wounds him heavily, cuts down his standard, then successively destroys the charioteer, a key chariot component (triveṇuka), the bow, and finally the four horses—effectively rendering the enemy chariot inoperable.