Shloka 776
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
अश्वांस्तस्थावधीत् तूर्णमुभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी । तत्पश्चात् सुसंयत भल्लोंके प्रहारसे उसके रथ, जूए और ईषादण्ड (हरसे)-को काटकर शीघ्र ही घोड़ों तथा दोनों पारशश्वरक्षकोंको भी मार डाला
sañjaya uvāca |
aśvān tasthāv adhīt tūrṇam ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī |
tatpaścāt susaṃyata-bhallaiḥ prahāra-sevayā tasya rathaṃ yugaṃ ca īṣādaṇḍaṃ ca ciccheda, śīghram aśvān ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathīś ca jaghāna |
Sanjaya dijo: Manteniéndose firme, abatió con rapidez a los caballos y también a los dos asistentes apostados en la parte trasera del carro. Luego, con flechas bien dirigidas, afiladas como navajas y disparadas en rápida sucesión, despedazó el carro de su adversario, su yugo y el timón; y sin demora, mató asimismo a los caballos y a los dos aurigas de retaguardia.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, technical mastery and strategic targeting (disabling the chariot’s structure and support) can decide outcomes, while also exposing the ethical burden of collateral suffering—attendants and animals become vulnerable despite not being principal combatants.
In Sanjaya’s report of the battle, a warrior rapidly kills the horses and the two rear chariot-attendants, then uses well-aimed broad-headed arrows to cut the opponent’s chariot components—chariot, yoke, and pole—thereby immobilizing and dismantling the enemy’s fighting platform.