Shloka 41
Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)
भगदत्तस्तु राजानं द्रुप्दं नतपर्वभि: । सनियन्तृध्वजरथं विव्याध पुरुषर्षभ:
bhagadattas tu rājānaṃ drupadaṃ nataparvabhiḥ | sa-niyantṛ-dhvaja-rathaṃ vivyādha puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Alors Bhagadatta, taureau parmi les hommes, frappa le roi Drupada de flèches aux jointures courbées ; et il perça aussi son char — le cocher et l’étendard — accablant le roi d’une pression terrible au cœur du combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless force of kṣatriya warfare: prowess is shown not only by striking the opponent but by disabling the chariot system (driver and banner), emphasizing how martial skill can rapidly shift a battle’s balance and intensify the ethical weight of combat.
Sañjaya reports that Bhagadatta assaults King Drupada, shooting him with distinctive bent-jointed arrows and also piercing Drupada’s chariot—its charioteer and banner—signaling a severe tactical blow against Drupada in the ongoing battle.