Shloka 273
नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च
Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault
अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद सज्यं सविशिखं तदा । महाराज! शिखण्डीने उस समय अर्धचन्द्राकार बाण मारकर प्रत्यंचा और बाणसहित कृपाचार्यके विशाल धनुषको काट दिया
ardhacandreṇa ciccheda sajyaṃ saviśikhaṃ tadā | mahārāja! śikhaṇḍīne us samaya ardhacandrākāra bāṇa mārakara pratyañcā aura bāṇasahita kṛpācāryake viśāla dhanuṣako kāṭa diyā
Dijo Sañjaya: “Oh rey, en ese instante Śikhaṇḍin, con una flecha de punta en media luna, cercenó el gran arco de Kṛpācārya—ya tensado, y junto con la flecha—y así contuvo su acometida en medio de la batalla. El episodio muestra cómo, en la guerra, la maestría de las armas se emplea para inutilizar el poder de daño del adversario más que para herir el cuerpo: una táctica que refrena la violencia al neutralizar la capacidad.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid warfare, a warrior’s skill can be directed toward limiting harm by disabling an opponent’s weapon. The focus on cutting the bow (the means of violence) highlights tactical restraint and the battlefield ethic of neutralizing capability rather than pursuing needless slaughter.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Śikhaṇḍin shoots a crescent-headed arrow and severs Kṛpācārya’s large bow while it is strung and paired with an arrow, effectively disarming him in that exchange.