Shloka 46
अष्टभिनिशितैर्बाणैरश्व॒त्थामानमार्दयत् । विंशत्या पुनराहत्य नानारूपैरमर्षण:,उन्होंने आठ पैने बाणोंसे अश्वत्थामाको चोट पहुँचायी। तत्पश्चात् अमर्षमें भरे हुए सात्यकिने भाँति-भाँतिके बीस बाणोंद्वारा द्रोणपुत्रको पुन: घायल करके उसके सारथिको भी बींध डाला और पूर्णरूपसे सावधान हो एक सिद्धहस्त योद्धाकी भाँति उन्होंने चार बाणोंसे उसके चारों घोड़ोंको घायल करके ध्वज और धनुषको भी काट दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
aṣṭabhir niśitair bāṇair aśvatthāmānam ārdayat |
viṃśatyā punar āhatya nānārūpair amarṣaṇaḥ |
Sañjaya said: With eight sharp arrows he struck Aśvatthāmā, causing him pain. Then, inflamed with righteous fury, he assailed him again with twenty arrows of varied forms—pressing the attack with the discipline of a master archer, intent on crippling the enemy’s fighting power rather than merely boasting of prowess.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights controlled martial discipline: even in anger (amarṣa), the warrior’s effectiveness lies in trained precision and tactical disabling of the opponent, reflecting kṣatriya-dharma where force is governed by skill and purpose rather than mere rage.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior strikes Aśvatthāmā first with eight sharp arrows, then renews the assault with twenty more of varied kinds, intensifying the engagement and demonstrating superior archery in the ongoing battle of the Droṇa Parva.