Shloka 115
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
शिलीमुखा: पार्थधनु:प्रमुक्ता रथान् ध्वजाग्राणि धनूंषि बाहून् । निकृत्य देहान् विविशु: परेषां नरेन्द्रनागेन्द्रतुरज़्माणाम्,अर्जुनके धनुषसे छूटे हुए बाण शत्रुओंके रथ, ध्वजाग्र, धनुष और बाहु काटकर नरेशों, गजराजों तथा घोड़ोंके शरीरोंमें घुसने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | śilīmukhāḥ pārthadhanuḥ-pramuktā rathān dhvajāgrāṇi dhanūṃṣi bāhūn | nikṛtya dehān viviśuḥ pareṣāṃ narendra-nāgendra-turagāṇām ||
Sañjaya said: The sharp arrows, released from Pārtha’s bow, sheared through chariots, the tips of banners, bows, and arms; and, having cut them down, they plunged into the bodies of the opposing kings, lordly elephants, and horses. The scene underscores the terrible efficiency of Arjuna’s martial skill within the grim, duty-bound violence of the Kurukṣetra war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of righteous warfare as conceived in the epic: when dharma requires battle, a kṣatriya’s skill is exercised with decisive force. It implicitly raises the ethical weight of combat—power is effective, but its results are grievous and irreversible.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s arrows flying from his bow and cutting down enemy equipment (chariots, banner-tops, bows) and even severing arms, then piercing the bodies of enemy kings, elephants, and horses—depicting a moment of overwhelming battlefield dominance.