Shloka 25
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
तं॑ शल्यो नवभिर्भित्त्वा पुनर्विव्याध पठ्चभि: । सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन गाढं विव्याध मर्मणि
taṁ śalyo navabhir bhittvā punar vivyādha pañcabhiḥ | sārathiṁ cāsya bhallena gāḍhaṁ vivyādha marmaṇi ||
Sañjaya dit : Śalya, après l’avoir percé de neuf flèches, le frappa encore de cinq autres. Et d’une flèche bhalla, tranchante, il blessa grièvement son cocher en un point vital—preuve de la cruauté du combat, où même ceux qui ne font que servir deviennent des cibles.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war compresses moral space: even non-combatant aides like charioteers can be harmed, illustrating the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare and the ethical erosion that prolonged conflict can bring.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya pierces Bhīmasena with nine arrows, then strikes him again with five more, and additionally wounds Bhīma’s charioteer with a bhalla-arrow in a vital spot.