Shloka 4
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
ते शूरा: समरे राजन् समासाद्य परस्परम्,राजन! वे शूरवीर समरांगणमें एक-दूसरेसे टक्कर लेकर कंक और मोरके-से पंखवाले तीखे बाणोंद्वारा परस्पर आघात-प्रत्याघात करने लगे। उनके वे बाण सुनहरी पाँखोंसे सुशोभित, शिलापर साफ किये हुए और कानोंतक खींचकर छोड़े गये थे
sañjaya uvāca | te śūrāḥ samare rājan samāsādya parasparam kanka-mora-pakṣa-vat tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ parasparam āghāta-pratyāghātaṃ cakruḥ | teṣāṃ te śarāḥ suvarṇa-puṅkhāḥ śilā-pariśuddhāḥ karṇānta-ākṛṣṭāḥ pramuktāś ca |
Sañjaya said: O King, those valiant warriors met one another in battle and, colliding head-on, began to strike and counterstrike with sharp arrows fletched like the feathers of herons and peacocks. Their shafts—adorned with golden wings, honed clean upon stone, and released after being drawn back to the ear—flew with deadly precision. The scene underscores the grim discipline of war: skill and resolve are turned toward mutual harm, where prowess becomes an instrument of destruction rather than protection.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined, reciprocal nature of battlefield violence—skill, preparation, and courage manifest as mutual injury. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya sphere where prowess is bound to conflict, reminding the listener of war’s grim symmetry: every blow invites a counterblow.
Sañjaya describes warriors meeting face to face and exchanging volleys of sharp arrows. The arrows are vividly characterized as golden-fletched, stone-honed, and shot at full draw, emphasizing the intensity and technical precision of the combat.