Shloka 18
धनुश्नास्य महच्चित्रं क्षुरेण प्रचकर्त ह । हस्तावापं पताकां च ध्वजं चास्य न्यपातयत्,फिर उसके विशाल एवं विचित्र धनुषको क्षुरसे काट डाला और उसके दस्ताने, पताका तथा ध्वजाको भी धरतीपर काट गिराया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca |
dhanuṣṇāsya mahac citraṃ kṣureṇa pracakarta ha |
hastāvāpaṃ patākāṃ ca dhvajaṃ cāsya nyapātayat ||
Vaiśampāyana said: With a razor-edged weapon he cut apart that warrior’s great and wondrous bow; and he also struck down to the ground his hand-guards, his banner, and his standard—an act that disables an opponent without needless slaughter, displaying mastery and restraint amid battle.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial conduct: true prowess can be shown by disabling an enemy’s capacity to fight (cutting bow, banner, standard) rather than pursuing gratuitous killing—an ethical restraint aligned with dharma even in warfare.
In the course of combat, a warrior uses a razor-edged weapon to sever the opponent’s large, remarkable bow and to bring down his protective hand-gear, banner, and standard, effectively disarming and humiliating his fighting posture.