Shloka 20
दण्डधारवधः | The Slaying of Daṇḍadhāra
प्रतिविन्ध्यस्ततश्रित्रं भित्ता पठचभिराशुगै: । सारथिं च त्रिभिरविंद्ध्वा ध्वजमेकेषुणापि च
prativindhyas tataḥ śitraṃ bhittvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ | sārathiṃ ca tribhir avindhyā dhvajam ekeṣuṇāpi ca ||
Sañjaya dit : Alors Prativindhya, après avoir percé l’armure de l’adversaire de cinq flèches rapides, frappa l’aurige de trois autres ; et d’une seule flèche il atteignit aussi l’étendard. C’était une démonstration éclatante de précision au cœur de l’éthique implacable du champ de bataille, où la prouesse se mesure à la force maîtrisée plutôt qu’à la seule fureur.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial excellence: even in war, a warrior’s power is shown through precision and control—piercing armor, targeting the charioteer, and striking the banner—rather than uncontrolled violence.
Sañjaya reports that Prativindhya shoots a sequence of arrows: five to pierce the opponent’s armor, three to wound the charioteer, and one to strike the chariot’s banner, signaling dominance in the ongoing battle.