Shloka 47
विव्याध च तथा सूतं चतुर्भिश्चतुरो हयान् धनुर्ध्वजं च संयत्तश्चिच्छेद कृतहस्तवत्,उन्होंने आठ पैने बाणोंसे अश्वत्थामाको चोट पहुँचायी। तत्पश्चात् अमर्षमें भरे हुए सात्यकिने भाँति-भाँतिके बीस बाणोंद्वारा द्रोणपुत्रको पुन: घायल करके उसके सारथिको भी बींध डाला और पूर्णरूपसे सावधान हो एक सिद्धहस्त योद्धाकी भाँति उन्होंने चार बाणोंसे उसके चारों घोड़ोंको घायल करके ध्वज और धनुषको भी काट दिया
sañjaya uvāca | vivyādha ca tathā sūtaṃ caturbhiś caturō hayān dhanur-dhvajaṃ ca saṃyattaś ciccheda kṛta-hastavat ||
Sanjaya said: He then pierced the charioteer as well, and with four arrows struck the four horses. Fully composed and alert, like a master of weapons, he cut down the bow and the banner. In the ethical texture of the battle, the act shows not mere rage but tactical restraint—disabling the enemy’s mobility and means of attack rather than pursuing indiscriminate slaughter.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violence, the epic highlights disciplined action: the warrior acts with saṃyama (composure) and kauśala (skill), aiming to neutralize the opponent’s capacity to fight (horses, bow, banner) rather than acting in blind fury.
In the chariot duel described by Sanjaya, the attacker wounds the enemy charioteer, strikes the four horses with four arrows, and then cuts the opponent’s bow and standard—effectively crippling the chariot’s movement and combat readiness.