Shloka 33
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
तदनन्तर अर्जुनपुत्र द्रौपदीकुमार महारथी श्रुतकीर्तिको द्रोणाचार्यके सामने जाते देख दुःशासनके पुत्रने रोका ।। तस्य कृष्णसम: कार्ष्णिस्त्रिभिर्भल्लै: सुसंशितै: । धनुर्ध्वजं च सूतं च छित्त्वा द्रोणान्तिकं ययौ,तब अर्जुनके समान पराक्रमी अर्जुनकुमार तीन अत्यन्त तीखे भल्लोंद्वारा दुःशासनपुत्रके धनुष, ध्वज और सारथिके टुकड़े-टुकड़े करके द्रोणाचार्यके समीप जा पहुँचा
tad-anantaraṁ arjuna-putraḥ draupadī-kumāraḥ mahā-rathī śrutakīrtiḥ droṇācārya-ke samane yāntaṁ dṛṣṭvā duḥśāsanasya putreṇa ruddhaḥ. tasya kṛṣṇa-samaḥ kārṣṇis tribhir bhallaiḥ su-saṁśitaiḥ dhanuḥ-dhvajaṁ ca sūtaṁ ca chittvā droṇāntikaṁ yayau.
Then, as Śrutakīrti—the great chariot-warrior, son of Arjuna and grandson of Draupadī—was seen advancing toward Droṇācārya, he was checked by the son of Duḥśāsana. But Kārṣṇi (Śrutakīrti), equal to Kṛṣṇa in prowess, with three razor-sharp broad-headed arrows cut down his opponent’s bow, banner, and charioteer, and pressed on to Droṇa’s very presence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya battlefield ethics and strategy: when obstructed, a warrior may neutralize the opponent’s fighting capacity by disarming (cutting the bow) and disabling the chariot’s effectiveness (banner and charioteer), in order to proceed toward the principal commander. It reflects disciplined, goal-directed valor rather than random violence.
Śrutakīrti, Arjuna’s son, advances toward Droṇa. Duḥśāsana’s son blocks him. Śrutakīrti responds with three sharp bhalla arrows that sever the blocker’s bow, banner, and charioteer, and then he continues forward to reach Droṇa’s vicinity.