Shloka 3
Irāvān-nidhana-anantaraṃ Ghaṭotkaca-nādaḥ
After Irāvān’s fall: Ghaṭotkaca’s roar and the clash with Duryodhana
स संवार्य रणे राजा प्रेषितान् धर्मसूनुना । शरान् सप्त महेष्वास: कौन्तेयाय समार्पयत्
sa saṃvārya raṇe rājā preṣitān dharmasūnunā | śarān sapta maheṣvāsaḥ kaunteyāya samārpayat ||
तेव्हा महाधनुर्धर राजा श्रुतायूने रणांगणात धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिराने सोडलेले बाण परतवून, कुन्तीपुत्रावर सात बाण सोडले.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: a warrior first defends by neutralizing incoming weapons and then responds proportionately. It reflects disciplined combat governed by accepted norms rather than uncontrolled violence.
During the Kurukṣetra battle, a king described as a great archer blocks the arrows shot by Yudhiṣṭhira (son of Dharma) and then shoots seven arrows at a Kaunteya (a son of Kuntī, i.e., one of the Pāṇḍavas).