Shloka 27
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
तान् स गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तान् वज़्ाशनिसमप्रभान् । नाराचानच्छिनद् राजा भल्लै:सर्वास्त्रिधा द्विधा,परंतु राजा बभ्रुवाहनने गाण्डीव धनुषसे छूटे हुए वज और बिजलीके समान तेजस्वी उन समस्त नाराचोंको अपने भल्लोंद्वारा मारकर प्रत्येकके दो-दो, तीन-तीन टुकड़े कर दिये
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
tān sa gāṇḍīva-nirmuktān vajrāśani-samaprabhān |
nārācān acchinad rājā bhallaiḥ sarvāṃs tridhā dvidhā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The king cut down those nārāca arrows that had been released from the Gāṇḍīva—arrows blazing like the thunderbolt and lightning—splitting them with his bhalla shafts, each into two or three pieces. The scene underscores not only martial prowess but also the disciplined restraint of a kṣatriya contest: even amid lethal force, skill and control govern the encounter.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined kṣatriya conduct: power is guided by skill, focus, and restraint. Even in violent conflict, mastery and control—rather than uncontrolled rage—define righteous martial excellence.
Arrows shot from the famed Gāṇḍīva blaze like lightning, but the king counters by slicing those incoming shafts with his own bhalla arrows, splitting them into two or three pieces before they can strike.