Shloka 6
अन्धकार-रजःसंमूढे रणाङ्गणे प्रदीपप्रकाशः | Illumination of the Army in Darkness and Dust
पुनश्न विशिखैस्ती&णैर्विंद्ध्वा मर्मसु पठचभि: । धनुश्चिच्छेद भल्लेन सूतपुत्रस्य मारिष,माननीय नरेश! फिर पाँच तीखे बाणोंद्वारा सूतपुत्रके मर्मस्थानोंमें चोट पहुँचाकर भीमसेनने एक भल्लद्वारा उसका धनुष काट दिया
sañjaya uvāca | punaś ca niśikhaiḥ tīrṇair viddhvā marmasu pañcabhiḥ | dhanuś ciccheda bhallena sūtaputrasya mārīṣa mānanīya nareśa ||
Sañjaya said: Then again, having pierced the Sūta’s son with five sharp, swift arrows at his vital points, Bhīmasena cut down his bow with a broad-headed shaft. O venerable king, this was the fierce turn of the combat—skill used not for display, but to disable the opponent’s capacity to fight.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a battlefield ethic often seen in epic warfare: mastery and restraint are shown by neutralizing an opponent’s fighting capacity (cutting the bow) rather than merely inflicting injury. It reflects kṣatriya-dharma where decisive action aims at ending the threat and turning the tide of combat.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīmasena strikes Karna (the Sūta’s son) with five sharp arrows at vital points and then severs Karna’s bow with a bhalla, momentarily disarming him in the duel.