Shloka 24
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
अथ द्रोणसुतस्येषूंस्ताञ्छित्त्वा निशितै: शरै: । धनुर्ज्या विततां पाण्ड्यश्विच्छेदादित्य तेजस:,तत्पश्चात् पाण्ड्यराजने अपने तीखे बाणोंद्वारा सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी अश्वत्थामाके उन बाणोंको छिन्न-भिन्न करके उसके धनुषकी फैली हुई डोरी भी काट डाली
atha droṇasutasyeṣūṁs tāñ chittvā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | dhanurjyāṁ vitatāṁ pāṇḍyaś ciccheda ādityatejasaḥ ||
Dijo Sañjaya: Entonces el rey de Pāṇḍya, con flechas afiladas como navajas, hizo añicos los proyectiles disparados por el hijo de Droṇa; y luego cortó la cuerda del arco, tensada al máximo, de Aśvatthāman, cuyo fulgor era como el del sol.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid righteous warfare, skill can be used to neutralize an enemy’s capacity to harm (cutting arrows and bowstring) rather than focusing solely on killing—suggesting tactical restraint and disciplined kṣatriya conduct within the chaos of battle.
The Pāṇḍya king counters Aśvatthāmā’s attack by cutting down the arrows he has shot and then severing Aśvatthāmā’s taut bowstring, temporarily disarming him. Sañjaya reports this as part of the ongoing combat in the Karṇa Parva.