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 ||
Wahai Rajendra, sekejap mata saja, dengan panah-panahnya ia merobohkan kuda-kuda, sais, dan kereta. Di medan laga ia menebas busur Dhṛṣṭadyumna. Lalu Aśvatthāmā yang tangkas melemparkan busur yang terpotong itu, meraih busur lain, dan dengan anak panah mengerikan laksana ular berbisa, dalam sekejap menghancurkan perlengkapan Dhṛṣṭadyumna—busur, tombak-sakti, gada, panji—beserta kuda-kuda, sais, dan keretanya.
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.