Shloka 19
दण्डधारवधः | The Slaying of Daṇḍadhāra
तांस्तु विद्रवतो दृष्टवा निरुत्साहान् द्विषज्जये । द्रावयन्निषुभिस्तीक्षणै: श्रुतकर्मा व्यरोचत,शत्रुओंपर विजय पानेका उत्साह छोड़कर भागते हुए उन सैनिकोंको देखकर अपने तीखे बाणोंसे उन्हें खदेड़ते हुए श्रुतकर्माकी अपूर्व शोभा हो रही थी
tāṁstu vidravato dṛṣṭvā nirutsāhān dviṣajjaye | drāvayanniṣubhistīkṣṇaiḥ śrutakarmā vyarocata ||
Sañjaya berkata: Melihat para pahlawan itu melarikan diri, semangat mereka untuk menewaskan musuh telah padam, Śrutakarmā tampak bersinar luar biasa ketika dia menghalau mereka dengan anak panahnya yang tajam, memaksa mereka kembali ke arah pertempuran.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya-war ethos: in battle, loss of resolve is treated as a grave failure, and leaders may forcibly restore discipline. It also hints at the ethical tension of war—valor is praised, yet fear and coercion coexist.
Some fighters are seen fleeing, having abandoned hope or enthusiasm for defeating the enemy. Śrutakarmā, standing out in splendor, uses sharp arrows to drive them—effectively rallying or pushing them back into the combat line.