Shloka 21
अध्याय २९: कर्णस्य शल्यं प्रति शापस्मरणं च युद्धनिश्चयः | Chapter 29: Karṇa recalls curses to Śalya and declares resolve for battle
ततो द्रौणेर्धनुश्छित्त्वा हत्वा चाश्वरथान् शरै: | कृपस्यापि तदत्युग्रं धनुश्चिच्छेद पाण्डव:
tato drauṇer dhanuś chittvā hatvā cāśvarathān śaraiḥ | kṛpasyāpi tad atyugraṃ dhanuś ciccheda pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Kemudian Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), setelah memutuskan busur putera Droṇa dan membunuh kuda-kudanya serta memusnahkan keretanya dengan anak panah, turut memecahkan busur Kṛpa yang amat menggerunkan. Adegan ini menonjolkan penguasaan Arjuna yang berdisiplin—melumpuhkan senjata dan pergerakan musuh untuk mengekang kemampuan mereka mencederakan, bukan sekadar bernafsu membunuh.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, effective action can be guided by discipline and restraint: by disabling weapons and mobility (bows, chariots, horses), a warrior can reduce harm and control the battle’s escalation while still fulfilling kṣatriya-duty.
Arjuna first cuts Aśvatthāman’s bow, then destroys his chariot and horses with arrows, and subsequently breaks Kṛpa’s very formidable bow as well—rapidly disarming key opponents on the battlefield.