Shloka 16
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
अथैत्य राजा युधि सत्यसंधो जयद्रथो>त्युग्रबलो मनस्वी । चिच्छेद चापानि महारथानां प्रसहा तेषां धनुषा वरेण,तत्पश्चात् सत्यप्रतिज्ञ अत्यन्त भयंकर शक्तिशाली मनस्वी राजा जयद्रथने रणमें सामने आकर उत्तम धनुषद्वारा बलपूर्वक उन महारथियोंके धनुष काट डाले
athaittya rājā yudhi satyasaṃdho jayadratho ’tyugrabalo manasvī | ciccheda cāpāni mahārathānāṃ prasahā teṣāṃ dhanuṣā vareṇa ||
Sañjaya said: Then, in the thick of battle, King Jayadratha—true to his resolve, exceedingly powerful, and high-spirited—advanced to the front and, with his excellent bow, forcibly cut down the bows of those great chariot-warriors. The scene underscores how, in war, steadfast vows and superior skill can abruptly shift the balance, even through acts that disable rather than directly kill.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of satyasaṃdha—steadfastness to one’s vow—and shows how disciplined resolve combined with skill can decisively affect outcomes in a dharma-governed war, often through tactics that neutralize an opponent’s capacity rather than mere slaughter.
Jayadratha advances into the fight and, using his superior bowmanship, forcibly severs the bows of several mahārathas, temporarily disarming them and gaining a tactical advantage.