Shloka 6
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
नकुल: पज्चभिश्लैनं सहदेवश्व॒ पञ्चभि: । विद्ध्वा तं तु पुनस्तूर्ण ततो विव्याध सप्तभि:
nakulaḥ pañcabhiś cainaṃ sahadevaś ca pañcabhiḥ | viddhvā taṃ tu punas tūrṇaṃ tato vivyādha saptabhiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Nakula memanahnya dengan lima anak panah, dan Sahadeva pun dengan lima. Setelah demikian menembusnya, mereka segera menyerbu lagi dan kemudian melukainya dengan tujuh anak panah tambahan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfastness and coordinated effort in battle: once an opponent is engaged, the warriors act decisively and without hesitation. Ethically, it reflects the epic’s portrayal of duty-driven action within the harsh necessities of war, rather than personal cruelty.
Sañjaya describes a rapid exchange in the battlefield: Nakula and Sahadeva strike their opponent with volleys of arrows—first five each, then again swiftly, followed by seven more—intensifying pressure and demonstrating synchronized martial skill.