Shloka 33
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 95 — Sātyaki’s Breakthrough and the Routing of Allied Contingents
तेषामापततां शीघ्र गाण्डीवप्रेषितै: शरै: । निचकर्त शिरांस्य॒ग्रो बाहूनपि सुभूषणान्,तब उग्ररूपधारी अर्जुनने गाण्डीव धनुषसे छोड़े हुए बाणोंद्वारा उन सारे आक्रमणकारियोंके मस्तकों तथा उत्तम भूषणभूषित भुजाओंको भी शीघ्र ही काट डाला
teṣām āpatatāṁ śīghraṁ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ | nicakarta śirāṁsy agro bāhūn api subhūṣaṇān ||
Sañjaya said: As those warriors rushed in, Arjuna—terrible in his battle-form—swiftly severed their heads and even their well-adorned arms with arrows shot from the Gāṇḍīva.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh but traditional kṣatriya ethic: in a battlefield context, an onrushing attack is answered with swift, effective counterforce. It also frames Arjuna’s action as disciplined martial execution rather than personal cruelty, as reported neutrally by Sañjaya.
As enemy fighters charge toward him, Arjuna shoots arrows from his bow Gāṇḍīva and quickly severs their heads and ornamented arms, halting the assault through overwhelming archery.