Shloka 203
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
द्रौणिक्षिच्छेद विहसन् विव्याध च शरैस्त्रिभि: । उसके बाद अमेय आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न द्रोणकुमारने धर्मराजके धनुषको काट डाला और हँसते-हँसते तीन बाणोंद्वारा पुनः उन्हें घायल कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca | drauṇikṣiccheda vihasan vivyādha ca śarais tribhiḥ |
Sañjaya said: Laughing as he did so, the son of Droṇa cut down (the bow of) Drauṇikṣi and then pierced him again with three arrows. The scene underscores the ruthless momentum of battle, where skill and mockery combine to humiliate an opponent and press advantage without pause.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, technical mastery can be used not only to defeat but also to demean—laughter accompanying the act signals a lapse from restraint (saṃyama) and compassion, reminding readers that victory pursued with mockery and cruelty deepens moral injury even amid kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports a rapid exchange in battle: Drauṇikṣi (the son of Droṇa, i.e., Aśvatthāmā) severs the opponent’s bow and immediately follows up by wounding him with three arrows, doing so while laughing—an aggressive, demoralizing tactic meant to break resistance.