Shloka 84
स पौरवं रथशक्त्या निहत्य छित्त्वा रथं तिलशक्षास्य बाणै: । छित्त्वा च बाहू वरचन्दनाक्तौ भल्लेन कायाच्छिर उच्चकर्त,फिर उसने पौरवको रथशक्तिसे घायल करके अपने बाणोंद्वारा उनके रथके तिलके बराबर-बराबर टुकड़े कर डाले और सुन्दर चन्दनचर्चित उनकी दोनों भुजाओंको काटकर एक भल्लके द्वारा उनके मस्तकको भी धड़से अलग कर दिया
sa pauravaṁ rathaśaktyā nihatya chittvā rathaṁ tilaśaḥkāsya bāṇaiḥ | chittvā ca bāhū varacandanāktau bhallena kāyāc chira uccakarta ||
Sañjaya said: Having struck down the Paurava with a spear cast from the chariot, he then shattered his chariot into fragments as small as sesame grains with a storm of arrows. Next, he severed the opponent’s two arms—smeared with fine sandal paste—and with a bhalla arrow he cut off his head from the body.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark reality of war: skill and resolve can end a life instantly, and outward marks of refinement (like sandal paste) do not protect one from death. It implicitly warns that in the kṣatriya arena, actions have irreversible consequences, and violence—once unleashed—moves with relentless momentum.
Sañjaya narrates a battlefield killing: a warrior strikes a Paurava with a chariot-thrown spear, destroys his chariot with arrows, severs both arms, and finally decapitates him with a bhalla arrow.