Shloka 4
Adhyāya 18 — Sequential Duels and Formation Pressure
Ulūka–Yuyutsu; Śakuni–Sutasoma; Kṛpa–Dhṛṣṭadyumna; Kṛtavarmā–Śikhaṇḍin
भल््लै: क्षुरैरर्धचन्द्रैर्वत्सदन्तैश्व पाण्डव: । चिच्छेदामित्रवीराणां समरे प्रतियुध्यताम्,पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनने भल्ल, क्षुर, अर्धचन्द्र और वत्सदन््त नामक अस्त्रोंद्वारा समरांगणमें सामना करनेवाले विपक्षी वीरोंके रथोंमें जुते हुए धुरंधर अश्वों, सारथियों, ध्वजों, धनुषों, सायकों, तलवारों, हाथों, हाथमें रखे हुए शस्त्रों, भुजाओं तथा मस्तकोंको भी काट डाला
sañjaya uvāca |
bhallaiḥ kṣuraiḥ ardhacandraiḥ vatsadantaiś ca pāṇḍavaḥ |
ciccheda amitravīrāṇāṃ samare pratiyudhyatām ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സമരത്തിൽ പ്രതിയുദ്ധം ചെയ്തിരുന്ന ശത്രുവീരരെ പാണ്ഡവനായ അർജുനൻ ഭല്ല, ക്ഷുര, അർദ്ധചന്ദ്ര, വത്സദന്ത അമ്പുകളാൽ ഛേദിച്ചു വീഴ്ത്തി।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the terrible efficiency of warfare: extraordinary skill can fulfill kṣatriya-duty in battle, yet it also reveals the moral weight of violence—victory is achieved through decisive, often gruesome action against living beings and their supports (horses, drivers, weapons).
Sañjaya describes Arjuna’s battlefield dominance: using specialized cutting arrows, he disables and destroys the enemy’s fighting capacity by severing horses, charioteers, banners, bows, weapons, limbs, and heads of opposing warriors who are actively resisting.