Shloka 5
Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra
Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
स शिरांसि रणे<४रीणां रथांश्व॒ सयुगध्वजान् । निचकर्त महावेगैर्भल्लै: संनतपर्वभि:,वे युद्धमें झुकी हुई गाँठवाले अत्यन्त वेगशाली भललोंद्वारा शत्रुओंके मस्तक, रथ, जूआ तथा ध्वज काट-काटकर गिराने लगे
sa śirāṃsi raṇe 'rīṇāṃ rathān aśvān sayugadhvajān | nicakarta mahāvegair bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Au plus fort du combat, il se mit à trancher les têtes des ennemis et à mettre en pièces leurs chars, leurs chevaux, leurs jougs et leurs étendards—frappant de flèches bhalla d’une rapidité extrême, aux jointures recourbées.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark reality of kṣatriya warfare: mastery in arms is shown by swiftly neutralizing both the opponent and his instruments of battle. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between dharma-bound duty in war and the grim violence that duty entails.
Sañjaya describes a warrior (contextually, a principal fighter in the battle) using very fast bhalla-arrows to sever enemies’ heads and to disable their chariots, horses, yokes, and flags—systematically breaking the enemy’s fighting capacity.