Shloka 41
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
त॑ निहत्य ततः पार्थ: सुशर्माणं त्रिभि: शरै:
taṁ nihatya tataḥ pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṁ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
Sañjaya dijo: Habiéndolo abatido, entonces Pārtha (Arjuna) hirió a Suśarmā con tres flechas—imagen de una fuerza veloz y disciplinada en medio de la guerra justa, donde, una vez asumido el deber del combate, la destreza se ejerce sin vacilación.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: once battle is joined under rightful command, decisive action and disciplined skill are required, not wavering—power is exercised as duty rather than personal cruelty.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, after killing an unnamed opponent (“him”), immediately turns his attention to Suśarmā and pierces him with three arrows, continuing the rapid sequence of combat in the Śalya Parva.