Shloka 406
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 58 — Arjuna’s Arrow-Storm and Relief of Bhīmasena
हयान् सूतं रथं चैव निमेषाद् व्यधमच्छरै: । धष्टद्युम्नने समरांगणमें अश्वत्थामाके धनुषको काट डाला। राजेन्द्र! तब वेगवान् अश्वत्थामाने उस कटे हुए धनुषको फेंककर दूसरा धनुष और विषधर सर्पोके समान भयंकर बाण हाथमें लेकर उनके द्वारा पलक मारते-मारते धृष्टद्युम्नके धनुष
sañjaya uvāca | hayān sūtaṃ rathaṃ caiva nimeṣād vyadhamac charaiḥ | dhṛṣṭadyumne samārāṅgaṇe aśvatthāmā dhanur acchinat | rājendra! tataḥ vegavān aśvatthāmā tac chinnaṃ dhanuḥ tyaktvā anyad dhanuḥ gṛhītvā viṣadhara-sarpa-sadṛśān bhīṣaṇān bāṇān pāṇau kṛtvā taiḥ nimeṣa-mātreṇa dhṛṣṭadyumnasya dhanuḥ śaktiṃ gadāṃ dhvajaṃ aśvān sārathiṃ ca rathaṃ ca vidhvaṃsayāmāsa ||
Sañjaya dit : «En un clin d’œil, de ses flèches il abattit les chevaux, le cocher et le char. Sur le champ de bataille, il trancha l’arc de Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Alors, ô roi, le rapide Aśvatthāmā jeta l’arc brisé, en saisit un autre, et, brandissant des flèches terribles telles des serpents venimeux, en un instant réduisit en pièces les armes et les insignes de Dhṛṣṭadyumna—son arc, sa śakti (lance), sa massue, sa bannière—ainsi que ses chevaux, son cocher et son char.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, sheer skill and speed can become morally perilous when driven by wrath—turning prowess into total annihilation of an opponent’s weapons, symbols, and supports. It invites reflection on the thin line between valor and cruelty when dharma is eclipsed by vengeance.
Sañjaya reports to the king that Aśvatthāmā rapidly disables Dhṛṣṭadyumna by cutting his bow and then, with another bow and deadly arrows, demolishes his armaments and chariot-system—banner, weapons, horses, charioteer, and chariot—rendering him effectively neutralized on the field.