Shloka 69
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
तस्य द्रोण: पुनश्नापं चिच्छेदामित्रकर्शन: । हयांश्न चतुरस्तूर्ण चतुर्भि: सायकोत्तमै:
tasya droṇaḥ punaḥ śnāpam ciccheda amitrakarśanaḥ | hayāṃś ca caturas tūrṇaṃ caturbhiḥ sāyakottamaiḥ |
サンジャヤは言った。すると敵を屈するドローナは、再びその弓を断ち切り、さらに四本の最上の矢で四頭の馬をたちまち射倒して死へと送った。続いて鋭いバッラ（bhalla）の矢で、御者をも終焉へと追いやった。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical reality of war: strategic skill aims not only at the warrior but also at the chariot-system (bow, horses, charioteer) that enables combat. It reflects how kṣatriya warfare prioritizes disabling an opponent’s capacity to fight, even when that entails lethal force against supporting roles.
Sañjaya reports that Droṇa severs the opponent’s bow again, then with four superb arrows quickly kills the four horses, and finally kills the charioteer with a bhalla-type arrow—effectively immobilizing and neutralizing the enemy chariot.