Shloka 10
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
सहदेवस्तु समरे मातुल॑ भूरिवर्चसम् | सज्यमन्यद् धनु: कृत्वा पजचभि: समताडयत्
sahadevas tu samare mātulaṁ bhūrivarcasam | sajyam anyad dhanuḥ kṛtvā pañcabhiḥ samatāḍayat ||
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Sahadeva confronted his maternal uncle, the radiant and formidable warrior Śalya. Stringing another bow, he struck him repeatedly with five well-aimed arrows.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: personal relationships, even close kinship, are subordinated to one’s pledged duty and the harsh necessities of battle.
Sañjaya reports that Sahadeva, in combat, readies another bow and strikes his maternal uncle—described as highly radiant—with five arrows.