Shloka 20
Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ
Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements
अमृष्यमाणो धनुषश्छेदनं कृतवर्मणा । कुपितो5तिरथ: शीघ्रं कृतवर्माणमभ्ययात्,सम्पूर्ण धनुर्धरोंमें श्रेष्ठ महाबली एवं महापराक्रमी युयुधानने उस उत्तम धनुषको लेकर शीघ्र ही उसपर बाण चढ़ाया और कृतवमकि द्वारा अपने धनुषका काटा जाना सहन न करके उन अतिरथी वीरने कुपित हो शीघ्रतापूर्वक उसपर आक्रमण किया
sañjaya uvāca | amṛṣyamāṇo dhanuṣaś chedanaṃ kṛtavarmaṇā | kupito 'tirathaḥ śīghraṃ kṛtavarmāṇam abhyayāt |
Sañjaya said: Unable to endure that his bow had been cut by Kṛtavarmā, the mighty warrior—an atiratha—became enraged and swiftly charged at Kṛtavarmā.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a common ethical pressure-point in war: when honor is wounded (here, the cutting of one’s bow), anger can override restraint and lead to swift retaliation. It implicitly warns how pride and rage intensify conflict and cloud judgment.
Sañjaya reports that after Kṛtavarmā cuts a warrior’s bow, that warrior cannot bear the insult/damage, becomes furious, and immediately rushes to attack Kṛtavarmā.