Shloka 29
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
राजन! उस समय शकुनिने अत्यन्त वेगशाली और झुकी हुई गाँठवाले तीखे भल््लोंद्वारा सुतसोमके धनुष, तरकस तथा अन्य सब उपकरणोंको भी नष्ट कर दिया ।। स च्छिन्नधन्वा विरथ: खड््गमुद्यम्य चानदत् । वैदूर्योत्पलवर्णाभं दन्तिदन्तमयत्सरुम्
rājan! tadā śakunir atyantavegaiḥ praṇataiḥ parvabhir niśitaiś ca bhallaiḥ sutasomasya dhanuḥ śarāsanaṃ tarakasaṃ cānyāni sarvāṇy upakaraṇāni ca vināśayām āsa || sa cchinnadhanvā viratho khaḍgam udyamya cānādat | vaidūryotpalavarṇābhaṃ dantidantamayaṃ śarum ||
Sañjaya said: O King, at that time Śakuni, with extremely swift, sharp bhalla-arrows whose joints were bent downward, shattered Sutasoma’s bow, his quiver, and all his other fighting gear. With his bow cut, Sutasoma became chariotless; raising his sword, he roared aloud, and then took up a spear made of elephant-ivory, gleaming like vaidūrya-gem and blue lotus in hue—ready to continue the fight despite the loss of his weapons.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights kṣatriya resilience: even when deprived of primary weapons and chariot, a warrior is expected to maintain courage, adapt swiftly, and continue the fight without surrendering to despair.
Śakuni uses fast, sharp bhalla-arrows to cut down Sutasoma’s bow, quiver, and equipment. Sutasoma becomes chariotless, roars, raises his sword, and prepares another weapon—an ivory spear shining like a cat’s-eye gem and blue lotus—to continue battling.