Shloka 14
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
भारद्वाजस्तु समरे मत्स्यं विव्याध पत्रिणा | ध्वजं चास्य शरेणाजौ धनुश्वैकेन चिच्छिदे,दूसरी ओर द्रोणाचार्यने मत्स्यराज विराटको युद्धमें एक बाणसे बींध डाला तथा एक बाणसे उनका ध्वज और एकसे धनुष काट डाला
bhāradvājastu samare matsyaṃ vivyādha patriṇā | dhvajaṃ cāsya śareṇājau dhanuś caikena cicchide ||
Dijo Sañjaya: En lo más recio de la batalla, Bhāradvāja (Droṇācārya) atravesó al rey de Matsya (Virāṭa) con una flecha emplumada; luego, allí mismo en el combate, cercenó su estandarte con otro proyectil y cortó su arco con una sola flecha.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, mastery of weapons is used not only to wound but to neutralize an enemy’s ability to fight and lead—by striking the warrior, cutting the banner (a sign of command and morale), and severing the bow (the means of combat). It reflects the harsh logic of battlefield duty within kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya narrates that Droṇa (called Bhāradvāja) strikes King Virāṭa of Matsya with an arrow, then shoots down his banner and cuts his bow, effectively diminishing Virāṭa’s fighting capacity and battlefield presence.