Shloka 22
दण्डधारवधः | The Slaying of Daṇḍadhāra
प्रतिविन्ध्यो धनुश्छित्त्वा तस्य भारत सायकै: । पजञ्चभिर्निशितैर्बाणैरथैनं स हि जध्निवान्
prativindhyo dhanuś chittvā tasya bhārata sāyakaiḥ | pañcabhir niśitair bāṇair athainaṃ sa hi jadhnivān ||
サञ्जयは語った。プリティヴィンドゥヤは矢で敵の弓を断ち切り、ついで、ああバーラタよ、鋭い矢五本でその者を打ち倒した。この場面は戦場の技の冷厳な効率を示す—武勇が殺傷の精確さへと転じるとき、生と死はたちまち決し、骨肉相争う戦の大いなる道徳的悲劇のただ中に沈むのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: technical mastery (disarming by cutting the bow) becomes decisive and lethal. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—dharma-bound duty in battle versus the sorrowful cost of violence within a kinship war.
Sañjaya reports that Prativindhya first severs his opponent’s bow with arrows, then follows up with five sharp arrows and brings the opponent down (kills or mortally fells him), marking a swift turn in the combat.