Shloka 26
Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas
Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode
ततः पार्थों धनुस्तस्य भल्लेन निशितेन ह । चिच्छेदेकेन भूयश्व हस्तावापमथाहरत्,तब अर्जुनने एक तीखे भल्ल नामक बाणद्धारा कृपाचार्यका धनुष काट डाला और पुनः उनके दस्तानेको नष्ट कर दिया
tataḥ pārtho dhanus tasya bhallena niśitena ha | cicchedaikena bhūyaś ca hastāvāpam athāharat ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Entonces Pārtha (Arjuna), con una sola flecha bhalla, aguda y cortante, cercenó el arco de Kṛpācārya; y de nuevo hirió, destruyendo las guardas protectoras de sus manos. El episodio pone de relieve el dominio contenido de Arjuna en la batalla: desarma a un maestro anciano sin derramar sangre innecesaria, afirma su superioridad y, a la vez, refrena el daño excesivo.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, power should be governed by restraint and discernment: Arjuna demonstrates superiority by disarming and disabling rather than pursuing needless killing, aligning martial excellence with ethical control.
Arjuna (Pārtha) shoots a sharp bhalla-arrow that severs Kṛpācārya’s bow, and then strikes again to destroy his protective hand-guards, effectively neutralizing him in combat.