Shloka 61
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 95 — Sātyaki’s Breakthrough and the Routing of Allied Contingents
तस्यार्जुन: शरैस्तीक्ष्ण: कडकपत्रपरिच्छदै: | न्यपातयद्धयान् शीघ्रं यतमानस्य मारिष,मान्यवर! तब अर्जुनने कंककी पाँखोंवाले तीखे बाणोंद्वारा विजयके लिये प्रयत्न करनेवाले अम्बष्ठके घोड़ोंको शीघ्र ही मार गिराया
tasyārjunaḥ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ kaḍakapatra-paricchadaiḥ | nyapātayad hayān śīghraṃ yatamānasya māriṣa ||
Sañjaya dit : «Arjuna, de ses flèches acérées empennées de plumes dures comme des roseaux, abattit promptement les chevaux d’Ambaṣṭha, tandis que celui-ci s’efforçait d’obtenir la victoire.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Within kṣatriya-dharma, decisive action that neutralizes an opponent’s capacity to cause further harm is presented as legitimate battlefield conduct; here, Arjuna targets the horses to break the enemy’s momentum and protect his side.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna shoots sharp, stiff-fletched arrows and quickly brings down the horses of Ambashtha, who is actively striving to win, thereby crippling his chariot’s movement in the ongoing battle.