Shloka 276
Adhyāya 65: Dawn Assembly, Makara–Śyena Vyūhas, and Commander Engagements
एकैकं पज्चविंशत्या दर्शयन् पाणिलाघवम् | दुर्मषणने बीस, चित्रसेनने पाँच, दुर्मुखने नौ, दुःसहने सात, विविंशतिने पाँच तथा दुःशासनने तीन बाणोंसे उन सबको बींध डाला। राजेन्द्र! तब शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले धष्टद्युम्नने अपने हाथोंकी फुर्ती दिखाते हुए दुर्योधन आदिमेंसे प्रत्येकको पचीस-पचीस बाणोंसे घायल किया
sañjaya uvāca | ekaikaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā darśayan pāṇilāghavam | durmarṣaṇe viṃśatiṃ citrasene pañca durmukhe nava duḥsahane sapta viviṃśatau pañca tathā duḥśāsane trīn bāṇaiḥ tān sarvān viddhvā | rājendra! tataḥ śatrūn santāpayane dhṛṣṭadyumne duryodhanādimeṣu pratyekaṃ pañca-pañcaviṃśatibhir bāṇair āhatān akarot ||
Sañjaya said: Displaying remarkable dexterity of hand, Dhṛṣṭadyumna pierced them all with arrows—twenty at Durmarṣaṇa, five at Citrasena, nine at Durmukha, seven at Duḥsaha, five at Viviṃśati, and three at Duḥśāsana. O best of kings, then that Dhṛṣṭadyumna, a tormentor of foes, showed his swift skill by wounding each of Duryodhana and the others with twenty-five arrows apiece. The passage highlights the disciplined, almost measured application of force in battle—skill directed toward a martial objective rather than uncontrolled rage.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores disciplined martial conduct: prowess is shown through controlled, precise action rather than indiscriminate violence. In the epic’s ethical frame, such measured skill aligns with kṣatriya-duty—using force purposefully within the rules and aims of battle.
Sañjaya reports that Dhṛṣṭadyumna rapidly shoots and pierces several Kaurava warriors with specified numbers of arrows, and then wounds Duryodhana and others with twenty-five arrows each, emphasizing his speed and battlefield dominance.