कर्णपर्व — पञ्चदशोऽध्यायः | Karṇa Parva, Chapter 15: Pāṇḍya’s Advance and Aśvatthāmā’s Counterstroke
अश्वत्थाम्न: शरानस्तान् छित्त्वैकैकं त्रिधा त्रिधा । व्यधमद् भरतश्रेष्ठो निहारमिव मारुत:
aśvatthāmnaḥ śarān astān chittvaikaikaṃ tridhā tridhā | vyadhamad bharataśreṣṭho nihāram iva mārutaḥ ||
Setelah berkata demikian, Arjuna, yang terbaik di antara keturunan Bharata, memotong setiap anak panah yang dilepaskan Aśvatthāmā menjadi tiga bagian—berulang kali—lalu menghancurkan semuanya, bagaikan angin menghalau kabut.
संजय उवाच
Power guided by discipline is superior to uncontrolled aggression: Arjuna’s response is measured, precise, and preventative—neutralizing danger without being swept away by anger, reflecting the ideal of controlled force in dharma-oriented warfare.
Aśvatthāmā shoots arrows at Arjuna; Arjuna counters by cutting each incoming arrow into three pieces, repeatedly, destroying the volley as effortlessly as wind disperses fog.