Shloka 17
Adhyāya 86: Irāvān’s Lineage, Cavalry Clash, and the Māyā-Duel Ending in Irāvān’s Fall
भल्लाभ्यां च सुतीक्ष्णाभ्यां धनु: केतुं च मारिष । चिच्छेद समरे राज॑स्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्,आर्य! राजन! तदनन्तर दो तीखे भल्लोंद्वारा उन्होंने युद्धस्थलमें उसके धनुष और ध्वज काट डाले। वह अदभुत-सी बात हुई
bhallābhyāṃ ca sutīkṣṇābhyāṃ dhanuḥ ketuṃ ca māriṣa | ciccheda samare rājā tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
Sañjaya said: “O noble one, with two exceedingly sharp bhalla-arrows the king, in the midst of battle, cut down his opponent’s bow and his banner. It appeared almost wondrous—an act displaying decisive martial skill and the relentless momentum of war.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the swift, decisive efficacy of skill in action: in war, a single well-aimed act can neutralize an opponent’s capacity (bow) and morale/identity (banner). Ethically, it underscores how prowess and strategy shape outcomes, while also reminding the listener of war’s relentless, disarming force.
Sañjaya reports that the king, using two very sharp bhalla-arrows, cuts off the enemy’s bow and battle-standard during combat—an event described as astonishing.