Shloka 16
स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथ: खड्गमादाय चर्म च
sa cchinnadhanvā virathaḥ khaḍgam ādāya carma ca
Sañjaya said: Having had his bow cut down and being left without a chariot, he seized a sword and a shield. In the press of battle, when one’s customary means are destroyed, the warrior’s resolve is tested—he must adapt without abandoning courage or duty, even as the scene underscores the grim escalation of close combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness in one’s role: when a warrior loses his primary weapon and chariot, he must still meet the moment with courage and presence of mind, adapting his means while continuing his duty amid crisis.
In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a combatant has his bow cut and becomes chariotless; he immediately switches to close-quarters arms by taking up a sword and a shield.