Shloka 231
शिखण्डिनं द्वादशभि: पराभिन- च्छितै: शरै: षड़भिरथोत्तमौजसम् । त्रिभिर्युधामन्युमवि ध्यदाशुगै- स्त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: सोमकपार्षतात्मजौ
śikhaṇḍinaṃ dvādaśabhiḥ parābhina-cchitaiḥ śaraiḥ ṣaḍbhir athottamaujasaṃ | tribhir yudhāmanyum avidhyad āśugais-tribhis tribhiḥ somakapārṣatātmajau ||
サンジャヤは言った。十二の矢でシカンディンを射、六の矢で剛勇なるウッタマウジャを貫いた。ついで疾矢をもってユダーマニュを三矢で傷つけ、さらに同じく—三と三—ソーマカとパールシャタの子らを射当てた。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim kṣatriya ethic of the battlefield: prowess is shown through disciplined, proportionate targeting of key opponents. It underscores how war reduces moral agency to tactical necessity—heroes are measured by control, accuracy, and resolve amid violence.
Sañjaya reports a rapid sequence of strikes in the battle: a warrior (implied from context) shoots Śikhaṇḍin with twelve arrows, Uttamaujā with six, then hits Yudhāmanyu with three swift arrows, and also wounds the two sons of Somaka and Pārṣata with three arrows each.