Mahabharata 7.25.23 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 25, Shloka 23
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
नकुलका पुत्र शतानीक बाण-समूहोंकी वर्षा करता हुआ द्रोणाचार्यकी ओर बढ़ रहा था। उस समय भूतकर्मा सभापतिने उसे द्रोणकी ओर आनेसे रोक दिया ।।
tato nakuladāyādas tribhir bhallaiḥ su-saṃśitaiḥ | cakre vibāhuśirasaṃ bhūtakarmāṇam āhave ||
サञ्जयは言った。「そののちナクulaの子は、よく研ぎ澄ました広刃の矢三本で戦場のブートカルマンを討ち、両腕と首を断ち落とした。かくして、ドローナाचार्यへの進撃を阻もうとした企ては、戦のただ中の必然として、迅速にして容赦ない一撃に終わった—勇気と自軍への義務が、常の抑制を凌駕するのである。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the harsh logic of kṣatriya-dharma in war: when a warrior blocks one’s advance toward a strategic target (here, Droṇa), decisive force is employed without hesitation. It highlights how duty to one’s side and battlefield necessity can eclipse ordinary moral restraints, revealing the ethical tension inherent in righteous war.
Śatānīka, Nakula’s son, advances toward Droṇācārya. Bhūtakarman intercepts him to prevent that advance. Śatānīka responds by shooting three sharp bhalla arrows, which cut off Bhūtakarman’s arms and head, killing him in the battle.
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