Shloka 15
पौरवस्तु धनुश्कछित्त्वा धृष्टकेतोर्महारथ: । ननाद बलवन्नादं विव्याध च शितै: शरै:,तब महारथी पौरवने धृष्टकेतुके धनुषको काटकर बड़े जोरसे सिंहनाद किया और उसे तीखे बाणोंसे बींध डाला
sañjaya uvāca | pauravas tu dhanuṣkṛt chittvā dhṛṣṭaketor mahārathaḥ | nanāda balavan nādaṃ vivyādha ca śitaiḥ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Maka sang Paurava, seorang mahāratha, memotong busur Dhṛṣṭaketu; ia mengaumkan pekik perang yang dahsyat lalu menembusnya dengan anak panah yang tajam.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic centered on kṣatriya prowess: neutralize the enemy’s means (cutting the bow), assert dominance (a powerful roar), and press the advantage (striking with arrows). It reflects how, in war, intimidation and tactical disabling can be as decisive as direct killing—raising implicit ethical tension between martial duty and compassion.
Sanjaya describes a Kuru-side great warrior (Paurava) severing Dhṛṣṭaketu’s bow, then roaring loudly and wounding Dhṛṣṭaketu with sharp arrows, marking a swift turn in that duel.