Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 33
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
प्रासेन सहदेवस्य शिरसि प्राहरद् भृूशम् । नरेश्वर! घोड़ेकी पीठपर बैठा हुआ आपका पुत्र दुर्योधन सहदेवके सामने आया। उसने बड़े यत्नसे सहदेवके मस्तकपर शीघ्रतापूर्वक प्रासका प्रहार किया ।।
sañjaya uvāca | prāsena sahadevasya śirasi prāharad bhṛśam | nareśvara! ghodekī pīṭhapar baiṭhā huā āpakā putra duryodhana sahadeva ke sāmane āyā | usne baṛe yatna se sahadeva ke mastak par śīghratāpūrvak prāsa kā prahāra kiyā || sopāviśad rathopasthe tava putreṇa tāḍitaḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai raja, putramu Duryodhana yang menunggang kuda maju menghadapi Sahadeva, lalu dengan tombak menghantam kepalanya dengan sangat keras. Terpukul oleh serangan putramu, Sahadeva terhuyung dan jatuh duduk di tempat duduk kereta.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of righteous war: a warrior must face sudden, violent reversals with steadiness. It also reflects the ethical tension of kṣatriya-dharma—valor and persistence are demanded even when injury and fear threaten to overwhelm.
Sañjaya reports that Duryodhana rides up to confront Sahadeva and strikes him on the head with a spear. The blow is so severe that Sahadeva, wounded, collapses/sits down on the chariot-seat.