Shloka 8
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
ततः कृप: शरैस्तीक्ष्णगैः सो5तिविद्धों महारथ: । व्यश्वसूतरथं चक्रे शिखण्डिनमथो द्विज:,उन तीखे बाणोंसे अत्यन्त घायल हुए महारथी विप्रवर कृपाचार्यने शिखण्डीको घोड़े, सारथि एवं रथसे रहित कर दिया
tataḥ kṛpaḥ śarais tīkṣṇagaiḥ so 'tividdho mahārathaḥ | vyaśvasūtarathaṃ cakre śikhaṇḍinam atho dvijaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then the brāhmaṇa warrior Kṛpa—though a great chariot-fighter and himself pierced deeply by sharp-flying arrows—struck back and rendered Śikhaṇḍin bereft of horses, charioteer, and chariot.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wounded, a disciplined warrior maintains composure and responds within the accepted code of battle—seeking to neutralize the opponent’s capacity to fight (disabling the chariot-team) rather than acting from mere rage.
Kṛpa, though badly struck by sharp arrows, counters effectively and makes Śikhaṇḍin lose his chariot, horses, and charioteer—leaving him temporarily unable to continue as a chariot-fighter.