Shloka 139
एवमुक्तस्तु कृष्णेन गृह भल्लांक्षतुर्दश । त्वरमाणस्त्वराकाले द्रौणेर्धनुरथच्छिनत्,भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके ऐसा कहनेपर अर्जुनने चौदह भल्ल हाथमें लेकर शीघ्रता करनेके अवसरपर फुर्ती दिखायी और अअश्वत्थामाके धनुषको काट डाला। साथ ही उसके ध्वज, छत्र, पताका, खड्ग, शक्ति और गदाके भी टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर दिये। तदनन्तर अश्व॒त्थामाके गलेकी हँसलीपर “वत्सदन्त” नामक बाणोंद्वारा गहरी चोट पहुँचायी
evam uktas tu kṛṣṇena gṛhītvā bhallān caturdaśa | tvaramāṇas tvarā-kāle drauṇer dhanur atha cchinat ||
Sañjaya said: Thus addressed by Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna swiftly took fourteen bhalla-arrows in hand; seizing the very moment that demanded speed, he cut down the bow of Drauṇi (Aśvatthāman).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, dharma is upheld through disciplined responsiveness: Kṛṣṇa’s counsel and Arjuna’s timely action show that preventing an opponent’s harmful escalation can be an ethical necessity, not mere aggression.
After Kṛṣṇa speaks, Arjuna rapidly takes fourteen bhalla-arrows and, acting at the critical moment, cuts Aśvatthāman’s bow—disarming him and shifting the immediate balance of the fight.