Shloka 41
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
त॑ निहत्य ततः पार्थ: सुशर्माणं त्रिभि: शरै:
taṁ nihatya tataḥ pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṁ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
Sañjaya said: Having slain him, then Pārtha (Arjuna) struck Suśarmā with three arrows—an image of swift, disciplined force in the midst of righteous warfare, where prowess is exercised without hesitation once the battle’s duty is engaged.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: once battle is joined under rightful command, decisive action and disciplined skill are required, not wavering—power is exercised as duty rather than personal cruelty.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, after killing an unnamed opponent (“him”), immediately turns his attention to Suśarmā and pierces him with three arrows, continuing the rapid sequence of combat in the Śalya Parva.