Shloka 7
दुःशासननिग्रहः—द्रोणधृष्टद्युम्नयुद्धप्रसङ्गः
Rebuke of Duḥśāsana; Context of the Droṇa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna Combat
बाह्लीकं रभसं युद्धे याज्ञसेनिर्महाबल: । आजल्ने विशिखैस्ती&णैघोरै मर्मास्थिभेदिभि:
bāhlīkaṃ rabhasaṃ yuddhe yājñasenir mahābalaḥ | ājaghne viśikhaiḥ tīkṣṇair ghorair marmāsthibhedibhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: In the fury of battle, the mighty Yājñaseni struck down Bāhlīka with sharp, dreadful arrows that pierced vital points and shattered bone—an image of war’s ruthless momentum, where valor and duty are enacted through lethal skill.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim reality of kṣatriya warfare: duty and prowess are expressed through decisive, even brutal action. It invites reflection on how dharma in war can demand firmness while still carrying heavy moral cost.
Sañjaya reports that the powerful Yājñaseni (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) attacks Bāhlīka in the heat of battle, striking him with sharp and terrifying arrows that pierce vital points and break bones.