Shloka 27
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
द्वादशानां तु सर्वेषां सौवीराणां धनंजय: । चकर्त निशितैर्भल्लैर्धनूंषि च शिरांसि च,अर्जुनने सौवीरदेशके जो बारह राजकुमार थे, उन सबके धनुष और मस्तक अपने भल्ल नामक तीखे बाणोंसे काट गिराये
dvādaśānāṁ tu sarveṣāṁ sauvīrāṇāṁ dhanañjayaḥ | cakarta niśitair bhallair dhanūṁṣi ca śirāṁsi ca ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), with his sharp bhalla arrows, cut down the bows—and even the heads—of all the twelve princes of the Sauvīra country. The passage underscores the terrifying precision of a master archer in battle, where martial skill can swiftly decide fate, and where violence, once unleashed, spares neither weapon nor wielder.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the decisive power of disciplined skill in warfare and the grave ethical weight of battle: a warrior’s expertise can instantly end resistance, reminding readers that violence, even when framed within kṣatriya duty, carries irreversible consequences.
In the course of a battle episode, Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) confronts twelve princes of the Sauvīra land and, using sharp bhalla arrows, severs their bows and also their heads—depicting a swift and overwhelming victory.