Shloka 23
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
हताश्वो विरथश्वैव छिन्नकेतुश्न मारिष । धन्वी धरनुर्वरं गृह रथाद् भूमावतिष्ठत,मान्यवर! घोड़े, रथ और ध्वजके नष्ट हो जानेपर धनुर्धर सुतसोम अपने हाथमें श्रेष्ठ धनुष लिये रथसे उतरकर धरतीपर खड़ा हो गया
hatāśvo virathaś caiva chinnaketuś ca māriṣa | dhanvī dharanurvaraṁ gṛhya rathād bhūmāv atiṣṭhata ||
Sañjaya dit : «Ô vénérable, lorsque ses chevaux furent abattus, son char rendu inutile et sa bannière tranchée, l’archer Sutasoma, saisissant son arc d’excellence, descendit du char et se tint ferme sur le sol.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after losing the external supports of war—horses, chariot, and banner—the warrior does not abandon resolve; steadiness and courage in adversity are presented as a mark of kṣatriya discipline.
In the Karṇa Parva battle account, Sutasoma’s chariot is effectively neutralized (horses slain, banner cut). He then takes up his best bow, dismounts, and continues the fight standing on the ground.