Shloka 6
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 29 — Arjuna’s defeat of Vṛṣaka–Acalā and the neutralization of Śakuni’s māyā
तस्य पार्थोीं धनुश्छित्त्वा परिवारं निहत्य च । लालयजन्निव राजानं भगदत्तमयोधयत्,तब अर्जुनने राजा भगदत्तका धनुष काटकर उनके परिवारको मार डाला और उन्हें लाड़ लड़ाते हुए-से उनके साथ युद्ध आरम्भ किया
tasya pārtho dhanuś chittvā parivāraṁ nihatya ca | lālayann iva rājānaṁ bhagadattam ayodhayat ||
Sañjaya dit : Arjuna trancha d’abord l’arc du roi Bhagadatta, puis abattit ses suivants ; ensuite seulement il engagea le combat contre le roi—presque comme s’il le ménageait en jouant. La scène met en lumière la maîtrise contenue d’Arjuna dans la guerre : au cœur du dharma-yuddha, même lorsqu’il porte des coups mortels, il mesure sa force, isole l’adversaire principal et évite toute escalade inutile jusqu’à ce que l’affrontement décisif devienne inévitable.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in violent conflict, the epic frames an ideal of disciplined force: Arjuna neutralizes the opponent’s capacity to harm (cutting the bow), removes immediate threats (the retinue), and then meets the principal warrior directly—suggesting restraint, tactical clarity, and responsibility within dharma-yuddha.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna severs Bhagadatta’s bow, kills or disperses his surrounding fighters, and then begins direct combat with Bhagadatta, described with the simile ‘as if indulging him,’ highlighting Arjuna’s superiority and controlled engagement.