Shloka 20
ततो ध्वजं स्फाटिकचित्रकज्चुकं चिच्छेद वीरो नकुल: क्षुरेण । कर्णात्मजस्थेष्वसनं च चित्र भल्लेन जाम्बूनदचित्रनद्धम्,तदनन्तर वीर नकुलने एक क्षुरद्वारा कर्णपुत्रके उस ध्वजको काट डाला, जिसे स्फटिकमणिसे जटित विचित्र कंचुक (चोला) पहनाया गया था। साथ ही एक भल्लके द्वारा उसके सुवर्णजटित विचित्र धनुषको भी खण्डित कर दिया
tato dhvajaṃ sphāṭika-citrakañcukaṃ ciccheda vīro nakulaḥ kṣureṇa | karṇātmaja-stheṣv-asanaṃ ca citraṃ bhallena jāmbūnada-citra-naddham ||
Then the valiant Nakula, with a razor-edged arrow, severed the banner that was adorned with a wondrous crystal-studded covering. Immediately thereafter, with a broad-headed shaft, he also shattered the splendid bow mounted upon Karṇa’s son—an ornate weapon richly bound and decorated with Jāmbūnada gold.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in battle: victory is pursued through skill and resolve, and striking an opponent’s standard and weapon symbolizes breaking both capability and arrogance, not merely inflicting bodily harm.
Sañjaya reports that Nakula severs Karṇa’s son’s banner with a razor-edged arrow and then, with a bhalla, shatters his ornate, gold-adorned bow—disarming him and diminishing his battlefield prestige.