Shloka 53
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
आर्य! तब महाबली पाण्डवसेनापतिने भी कुपित होकर दुर्योधनके धनुषको काट दिया और शीघ्रतापूर्वक उसके चारों घोड़ोंको भी मार डाला। तत्पश्चात् अत्यन्त तीखे सात बाणोंद्वारा तुरंत ही दुर्योधनको घायल कर दिया ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
ārya! tadā mahābalī pāṇḍava-senāpatināpi kupitaḥ san duryodhanasya dhanuḥ ciccheda, śīghratayā ca tasya catvāro 'śvān apātayat | tataḥ param atyanta-tīkṣṇaiḥ saptabhir bāṇaiḥ kṣaṇād eva duryodhanaṃ vyathayām āsa ||
sahatāśvān mahābāhur avaplutya rathād balī |
padātir asim udyamya prādravat pārṣataṃ prati ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô noble seigneur, alors le puissant chef de l’armée des Pāṇḍava, saisi de colère, trancha l’arc de Duryodhana et, sans tarder, abattit ses quatre chevaux. Puis, de sept flèches d’une acuité extrême, il blessa aussitôt Duryodhana. Ses chevaux ayant été tués, le vigoureux Duryodhana aux longs bras sauta de son char ; à pied, l’épée levée, il courut droit sur Dhṛṣṭadyumna, fils de Pṛṣata.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya resolve under pressure: when conventional means (chariot and bow) are neutralized, a warrior is expected to continue the fight with courage and presence of mind. Ethically, it also shows how anger and honor can drive escalation from ranged combat to lethal close-quarters engagement.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Pāṇḍava commander, cuts Duryodhana’s bow, kills his four horses, and wounds him with seven sharp arrows. With his chariot disabled, Duryodhana jumps down, draws his sword, and charges on foot toward Dhṛṣṭadyumna.