Shloka 1
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
अपन क्रात बछ। अं पञ्चाशीतितमोब<् ध्याय: अर्जुनका पराक्रम, पाण्डवोंका भीष्मपर आक्रमण, युधिष्ठिरका शिखण्डीको उपालम्भ और भीमका पुरुषार्थ संजय उवाच स ताड्यमानस्तु शरैर्धनंजय: पदा हतो नाग इव श्वसन् बली । बाणेन बाणेन महारथानां चिच्छेद चापानि रणे प्रसह[,संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! इस प्रकार शत्रुओंके बाणोंसे आहत होकर बलवान् अर्जुन पैरसे कुचले हुए सर्पकी भाँति क्रोधसे लंबी साँस खींचने लगे। उन्होंने बलपूर्वक पृथक्- पृथक् बाण मारकर युद्धमें सभी महारथियोंके धनुष काट डाले
sa tāḍyamānas tu śarair dhanañjayaḥ | padā hato nāga iva śvasan balī | bāṇena bāṇena mahārathānāṃ ciccheda cāpāni raṇe prasahya |
Sañjaya said: O King, though struck by the enemies’ arrows, the mighty Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) began to breathe long, wrathful breaths like a serpent crushed underfoot. Then, forcing the issue in battle, he severed the bows of the great chariot-warriors—arrow after arrow—breaking their power to fight and turning their aggression back upon them.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when wounded and provoked, true martial excellence is shown not merely by rage but by disciplined, strategic action—neutralizing the opponent’s capacity to harm (cutting bows) rather than indulging in uncontrolled slaughter. The verse highlights kṣatriya valor guided by skill and purposeful restraint.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna being hit by enemy arrows; anger rises in him like a trampled serpent’s hiss. He responds decisively by shooting repeated arrows that sever the bows of the opposing great warriors, disarming them in the midst of battle.