Shloka 26
अध्याय २२ — अमर्याद-युद्धवर्णन
Unrestrained Battle Description and Śakuni’s Rear Assault
अथान्यं रथमास्थाय थधर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर: । शकुनिं नवभिर्विद्ध्वा पुनर्विव्याध पञ्चभि:
athānyaṃ ratham āsthāya dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | śakunim navabhir viddhvā punar vivyādha pañcabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira mounted another chariot and charged again. Striking Śakuni with nine arrows, he once more pierced him with five—driving the battle onward with steadfast resolve against a chief instigator of adharma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a dharma-minded king like Yudhiṣṭhira must, in a righteous war, act decisively against agents of adharma; restraint and ethics do not negate the kṣatriya obligation to protect justice when peaceful means have failed.
After changing to another chariot, Yudhiṣṭhira renews his assault and repeatedly shoots Śakuni—first with nine arrows and then with five more—showing renewed momentum and focused targeting of a key Kaurava instigator.