Shloka 24
Śalya–Bhīma Gadāyuddham (मद्रराज-भीमसेन गदायुद्धम्)
सौबलस्तु गदां गृहा प्रचस्कन्द रथोत्तमात् | स तस्य गदया राजन् रथात् सूतमपातयत्,यह देख सुबलपुत्र शकुनि गदा हाथमें लेकर उस श्रेष्ठ रथसे कूद पड़ा। राजन्! उसने अपनी गदाद्वारा सहदेवके रथसे उनके सारथिको मार गिराया
Saubalastu gadāṃ gṛhya praca-skanda rathottamāt | sa tasya gadayā rājan rathāt sūtam apātayat ||
サンジャヤは言った。「スバラの子シャクニは棍棒を手に取り、優れた戦車から跳び降りた。大王よ、彼はその棍棒でサハデーヴァの戦車の御者を打ち倒した。戦士のみならず、戦いを成り立たせる支えを狙うその一撃は、戦の残酷さをいっそう深めた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war can slide from heroic contest into morally troubling tactics: striking down a charioteer targets the enabling support of a fighter rather than engaging the warrior directly, raising questions about dharma and restraint even amid battlefield necessity.
Sañjaya reports that Śakuni jumps from his chariot with a mace and uses it to knock down the charioteer of Sahadeva’s chariot, disrupting Sahadeva’s ability to fight effectively.