Shloka 4
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
संगृहीतायुधान् बाहूनू योधानामधिधावताम् । भल्लैश्विच्छेद बीभत्सु: शिरांस्पपि हयानपि
saṅgṛhītāyudhān bāhūn yodhānām adhidhāvatām | bhallaiś ciccheda bībhatsuḥ śirāṃsi api hayān api ||
Sañjaya said: As the warriors charged forward with weapons in hand, Bībhatsu (Arjuna) cut down with sharp bhalla-arrows their weapon-bearing arms, their heads, and even their horses—checking their onrush through precise and unsparing force in the midst of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: when battle is joined, a warrior must act decisively and skillfully to stop an aggressor’s charge. It also underscores the ethical tension of war—effective action can be precise and controlled, yet still entails grave harm and responsibility.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna (called Bībhatsu) meeting a forward charge by enemy warriors. Using bhalla-arrows, he severs their weapon-bearing arms and heads, and brings down their horses as well, breaking the momentum of the attack.