Shloka 22
दण्डधारवधः | The Slaying of Daṇḍadhāra
प्रतिविन्ध्यो धनुश्छित्त्वा तस्य भारत सायकै: । पजञ्चभिर्निशितैर्बाणैरथैनं स हि जध्निवान्
prativindhyo dhanuś chittvā tasya bhārata sāyakaiḥ | pañcabhir niśitair bāṇair athainaṃ sa hi jadhnivān ||
Sañjaya berkata: Prativindhya memutuskan busur lawannya dengan anak panahnya; kemudian, wahai Bhārata, dengan lima batang anak panah yang tajam dia menumbangkannya. Adegan ini menegaskan kecekapan yang suram di medan perang—apabila keperwiraan berubah menjadi ketepatan yang mematikan, hidup dan mati diputuskan dengan pantas di tengah tragedi moral perang saudara.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: technical mastery (disarming by cutting the bow) becomes decisive and lethal. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension—dharma-bound duty in battle versus the sorrowful cost of violence within a kinship war.
Sañjaya reports that Prativindhya first severs his opponent’s bow with arrows, then follows up with five sharp arrows and brings the opponent down (kills or mortally fells him), marking a swift turn in the combat.