Shloka 22
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
नकुल: समरे शक्ति सहदेवो गदां शुभाम् | धर्मराज: शतघ्नीं च जिघांसु: शल्यमाहवे,भीमसेनने प्रज्वलित सर्पके समान नाराच चलाया, नकुलने संग्रामभूमिमें शल्यपर शक्ति छोड़ी, सहदेवने सुन्दर गदा चलायी और धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरने रणक्षेत्रमें शल्यको मार डालनेकी इच्छासे उनपर शतघ्नीका प्रहार किया
sañjaya uvāca | nakulaḥ samare śaktiṃ sahadevo gadāṃ śubhām | dharmarājaḥ śataghnīṃ ca jighāṃsuḥ śalyam āhave | bhīmasenena prajvalita-sarpaka-samānān nārācān pracālitān | nakulena saṅgrāma-bhūmau śalye prati śaktiḥ kṣiptā | sahadevena sundarā gadā pracālitā | dharmarājena yudhiṣṭhireṇa raṇa-kṣetre śalyaṃ hantum icchatā śataghnī-praghātaḥ kṛtaḥ |
Sañjaya said: In the thick of battle, Nakula hurled a spear; Sahadeva launched a splendid mace; and Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, intent on slaying Śalya in the fight, struck at him with a śataghnī. Bhīmasena, like a blazing serpent, sent forth sharp arrows. Thus the Pāṇḍavas, each with his chosen weapon, pressed their righteous resolve into action amid the harsh demands of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is framed by intention and duty: the Pāṇḍavas act with focused resolve against a formidable foe, illustrating kṣatriya responsibility under dharma—decisive action undertaken for a perceived just cause, not for mere cruelty.
Sañjaya describes a coordinated assault on Śalya: Nakula hurls a spear, Sahadeva swings/launches a mace, Yudhiṣṭhira strikes with a śataghnī intending to kill Śalya, and Bhīma releases fierce arrows likened to a blazing serpent.