Shloka 29
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
हयांश्वास्य महाकायान् महावेगानरिंदम । चकार राजन् निर्जीवान् प्रहसन्निव पाण्डव:,राजन्! तब पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनने हँसते हुए-से अपने क्षुर नामक दिव्य बाणोंद्वारा बभ्रुवाहनके रथसे सुनहरे तालवृक्षके समान ऊँची सुवर्णभूषित ध्वजा काट गिरायी। शत्रुदमन नरेश! साथ ही उन्होंने उसके महान् वेगशाली विशालकाय घोड़ोंके भी प्राण ले लिये
Vaiśampāyana uvāca |
hayāṁśvāsya mahākāyān mahāvegān ariṁdama |
cakāra rājan nirjīvān prahasan iva pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O king, O subduer of foes, the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), as though smiling, struck down the great, powerful horses of his opponent—huge of body and swift in speed—leaving them lifeless. The scene underscores Arjuna’s controlled mastery in battle: even while appearing unruffled, he decisively disables the enemy’s mobility, a tactical act that limits further harm by ending the contest’s momentum.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined prowess: a warrior may appear calm—even smiling—yet act decisively. Ethically, it points to controlled force used for a clear tactical end (disabling the opponent’s movement), reflecting kṣatriya-dharma when battle is unavoidable.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna, in the course of the encounter, strikes down the opponent’s large, swift horses, rendering them lifeless—an action that effectively cripples the enemy chariot’s ability to continue the fight.