Shloka 5
Adhyāya 110: Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Lament on Fate; Saṃjaya’s Reproof and the Princes’ Assault on Bhīma (द्रोणपर्व, अध्याय ११०)
स तान् प्रति महाराज पञ्च चिक्षेप सायकान् | एकैकं हृदि चाजघ्ने एकैकेन महायशा:,महाराज! तब महायशस्वी शलने उनपर पाँच बाण चलाये, जिनमेंसे एक-एकके द्वारा एक-एककी छाती छेद डाली
sa tān prati mahārāja pañca cikṣepa sāyakān | ekaikaṃ hṛdi cājaghne ekaikena mahāyaśāḥ |
Sañjaya said: O King, turning against them, the greatly renowned warrior shot five arrows. With each single arrow he struck each man in the heart—an image of ruthless precision in the heat of battle, where skill and resolve are used to fulfill one’s chosen side and duty, even at the cost of life.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim clarity of kṣatriya warfare: disciplined skill and unwavering resolve are applied to one’s duty in battle. Ethically, it underscores how dharma in war can demand decisive action, even when the outcome is lethal.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a renowned warrior shoots five arrows at opponents and, with one arrow each, pierces each target in the heart—emphasizing deadly accuracy and the intensity of the encounter.