Shloka 33
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Sañjaya-saṃvādaḥ; madhyāhna-saṅgrāma-pravṛttiḥ
Dhritarashtra–Sanjaya dialogue and the midday battle escalation
तामापतन्तीं समरे शरवृष्टिं सुदारुणाम् । असिना तीक्ष्णधारेण चिच्छेद बलिनां वर:,बलवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ शिखण्डीने समरभूमिमें होनेवाली उस अत्यन्त भयंकर बाणवर्षाको तीखी धारवाली तलवारसे काट डाला
tām āpatantīṃ samare śaravṛṣṭiṃ sudāruṇām | asinā tīkṣṇadhāreṇa ciccheda balināṃ varaḥ ||
संजय बोले—समरभूमि में गिरती हुई उस अत्यन्त भयंकर बाण-वृष्टि को बलवानों में श्रेष्ठ शिखण्डी ने तीक्ष्णधार तलवार से काट डाला।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim reality of dharma in wartime: prowess and presence of mind become instruments of protection and strategy amid destructive force. It implicitly contrasts martial excellence with the tragic necessity of violence in a righteous conflict.
During the battle, a terrifying barrage of arrows descends. Śikhaṇḍin, described as foremost among the strong, counters it dramatically by cutting through the incoming arrow-shower with a sharp sword.