Shloka 27
द्रोणस्य सुपर्णव्यूहः — युधिष्ठिरप्रत्यव्यूहः
Droṇa’s Suparṇa Formation and Yudhiṣṭhira’s Counter-array
पृष्ठच्छिन्नान् विचरणान् बाहुपाश्वेक्षणाकुलान् । नानाड्ावयवैहीनांश्वकारारीन् धनंजय:,(( धनंजयने शत्रुओंको शरीरके अनेक अंगोंसे विहीन कर दिया। किन्हींकी पीठ काट ली तो किन्हींके पैर उड़ा दिये। कितने ही सैनिक बाहु, पसली और नेत्रोंसे वंचित होकर व्याकुल हो रहे थे
sañjaya uvāca |
pṛṣṭhacchinnān vicarāṇān bāhupārśvekṣaṇākulān |
nānāṅgāvayavahīnān śvakarārīn dhanañjayaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) reduced the enemy warriors to a pitiable state—some with their backs cleft, some still staggering about, others frantic from the loss of arms, ribs, or eyes, and many deprived of various limbs and bodily parts. The narration underscores the grim, dehumanizing reality of battle even when waged in the name of duty, where victory is purchased through terrible bodily harm.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse does not offer a doctrinal maxim but conveys an ethical realism: even when a warrior acts under kṣatriya-duty, war entails severe suffering and bodily devastation. The epic’s narration keeps the listener aware of the human cost that accompanies claims of righteousness in battle.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) is cutting down enemy fighters in the Drona Parva battle—some are maimed, some stagger on despite wounds, and many are left frantic from the loss of limbs, ribs, or eyes.