Shloka 24
Karṇa-parva Adhyāya 19 — Saṃśaptaka–Trigarta Assault and Aindra-astra Counter
अथ द्रोणसुतस्येषूंस्ताञ्छित्त्वा निशितै: शरै: । धनुर्ज्या विततां पाण्ड्यश्विच्छेदादित्य तेजस:,तत्पश्चात् पाण्ड्यराजने अपने तीखे बाणोंद्वारा सूर्यके समान तेजस्वी अश्वत्थामाके उन बाणोंको छिन्न-भिन्न करके उसके धनुषकी फैली हुई डोरी भी काट डाली
atha droṇasutasyeṣūṁs tāñ chittvā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | dhanurjyāṁ vitatāṁ pāṇḍyaś ciccheda ādityatejasaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then the Pāṇḍya king, with razor-sharp arrows, shattered those shafts released by Droṇa’s son; and next he cut the fully drawn bowstring of Aśvatthāmā, whose brilliance was like the sun. The episode highlights battlefield mastery directed toward disabling an opponent’s weapon rather than mere slaughter, a tactical restraint within the ferocity of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid righteous warfare, skill can be used to neutralize an enemy’s capacity to harm (cutting arrows and bowstring) rather than focusing solely on killing—suggesting tactical restraint and disciplined kṣatriya conduct within the chaos of battle.
The Pāṇḍya king counters Aśvatthāmā’s attack by cutting down the arrows he has shot and then severing Aśvatthāmā’s taut bowstring, temporarily disarming him. Sañjaya reports this as part of the ongoing combat in the Karṇa Parva.