Shloka 23
Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)
तस्य माद्रीसुत: केतुं धनु: सूतं हयानपि । नातिक्रुद्ध:ः शरैश्छित्त्वा षष्टया विव्याध सौबलम्,तब माद्रीकुमार सहदेवने अधिक कुपित न होकर शकुनिके ध्वज, धनुष, सारथि और घोड़ोंको अपने बाणोंद्वारा छिन्न-भिन्न करके साठ बाणोंसे सुबलपुत्र शकुनिको भी बींध डाला
tasya mādrīsutaḥ ketuṁ dhanuḥ sūtaṁ hayān api | nātikruddhaḥ śaraiś chittvā ṣaṣṭyā vivyādha saubalam ||
Then Mādrī’s son Sahadeva, without giving way to excessive anger, cut down with his arrows Śakuni’s banner, bow, charioteer, and even the horses; and with sixty shafts he also pierced Śakuni, the son of Subala—showing controlled resolve amid the fury of battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in righteous warfare, the text highlights restraint: Sahadeva acts effectively yet is described as nātikruddhaḥ—he does not surrender to uncontrolled rage, suggesting that discipline and clarity should govern force.
Sahadeva targets Śakuni’s battle-capacity by severing his standard, bow, charioteer, and horses, then directly wounds Śakuni with sixty arrows, intensifying the duel within the Drona Parva battle sequence.