Shloka 49
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
स सौबलमभिद्र॒त्य गार्ध्रपत्रै: शिलाशितै: । भृशमभ्यहनत् क्रुद्धस्तोत्रेरिव महाद्विपम्,उन्होंने एक विशाल धनुषपर बलपूर्वक प्रत्यंचा चढ़ाकर शिलापर तेज किये हुए गीधके पंखोंवाले बाणोंद्वारा शकुनिपर आक्रमण किया और जैसे किसी विशाल गजराजको अंकुशोंसे मारा जाय, उसी प्रकार कुपित हो उसको गहरी चोट पहुँचायी
sa saubalam abhidrutya gārdhrapatraiḥ śilāśitaiḥ | bhṛśam abhyahanat kruddhas totrair iva mahādvipam ||
Sañjaya said: Rushing straight at Śakuni, he powerfully struck him again and again with stone-whetted arrows fletched with vulture-feathers. In wrath he wounded him deeply, as one would drive a great elephant with sharp goads—an image of battle-fury overriding restraint and turning skill into ruthless force.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger in war intensifies harm: martial skill (well-made arrows) becomes an instrument of ruthless injury when driven by wrath, suggesting the ethical danger of krodha even within kṣatriya combat.
In the battle account narrated by Sañjaya, a warrior charges at Śakuni (Saubala) and strikes him fiercely with stone-whetted, vulture-feathered arrows, likening the blows to the driving of a great elephant with sharp goads.