Shloka 20
त्रिपुरदाह-इतिहासः
Tripura-destruction exemplum and counsel to Śalya
ताञ्शराज्शकुनिस्तूर्ण चिच्छेदान्यै: पतत्रिभि: । लघ्वस्त्रश्चित्रयोधी च जितकाशी च संयुगे
tāñ śarāñ śakunīs tūrṇaṃ cicchedānyaiḥ patatribhiḥ | laghv-astraś citra-yodhī ca jita-kāśī ca saṃyuge ||
サञ्जयは言った。「シャクニはたちまち別の羽矢でそれらの矢を断ち切った。武器の扱いは迅速、戦いのさまざまな術に通じ、戦場の勝利への自信に輝く者である。彼は鋭い矢でスータソーマの矢勢を抑え、そして—怒りに駆られて—三本の矢でスータソーマ自身を傷つけた。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how battlefield excellence (speed, tactical variety, accurate countering) can be immediately overtaken by anger, turning defense into punitive retaliation. It implicitly warns that skill without restraint easily becomes cruelty, intensifying the cycle of violence.
Sañjaya describes Śakuni countering Sutasoma’s attack: he quickly slices Sutasoma’s incoming arrows with his own, demonstrating rapid weapon-use and tactical versatility. After neutralizing the missiles, he becomes enraged and strikes Sutasoma with three arrows.