Shloka 20
दण्डधारवधः | The Slaying of Daṇḍadhāra
प्रतिविन्ध्यस्ततश्रित्रं भित्ता पठचभिराशुगै: । सारथिं च त्रिभिरविंद्ध्वा ध्वजमेकेषुणापि च
prativindhyas tataḥ śitraṃ bhittvā pañcabhir āśugaiḥ | sārathiṃ ca tribhir avindhyā dhvajam ekeṣuṇāpi ca ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu Prativindhya, setelah menembusi perisai dan zirah lawan dengan lima anak panah pantas, memanah pula sais kereta dengan tiga lagi; dan dengan sebatang anak panah sahaja, dia turut mengenai panji pada kereta perang—suatu peragaan ketepatan yang tegas di tengah etika kemahiran medan tempur yang tidak mengenal henti, di mana keperkasaan diukur melalui daya yang terkawal, bukan semata-mata amarah.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial excellence: even in war, a warrior’s power is shown through precision and control—piercing armor, targeting the charioteer, and striking the banner—rather than uncontrolled violence.
Sañjaya reports that Prativindhya shoots a sequence of arrows: five to pierce the opponent’s armor, three to wound the charioteer, and one to strike the chariot’s banner, signaling dominance in the ongoing battle.