Shloka 36
अर्जुनस्य द्रोणिप्रतिघातः कर्णोपसर्पणं च
Arjuna Checks Droṇaputra; Karṇa Advances
त॑ सुषेणो महाराज विद्ध्वा दशभिराशुगै: । चिच्छेद च धनु: शीघ्र क्षुरप्रेण महारथ:,महाराज! महारथी सुषेणने दस बाणोंसे नकुलको चोट पहुँचाकर शीघ्र ही एक क्षुरप्रके द्वारा उनका धनुष काट दिया
taṁ suṣeṇo mahārāja viddhvā daśabhir āśugaiḥ | ciccheda ca dhanuḥ śīghraṁ kṣurapreṇa mahārathaḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, pahlawan kereta perang Suṣeṇa, setelah memanah Nakula dengan sepuluh anak panah yang pantas, segera memutuskan busurnya dengan sebatang anak panah bermata pisau.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a common kṣatriya battlefield ethic and tactic: to neutralize an adversary by disabling his weapon (cutting the bow) after demonstrating superiority (piercing with arrows), rather than relying only on immediate killing—showing controlled martial skill within the rules and style of epic warfare.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Suṣeṇa strikes Nakula with ten swift arrows and then, using a razor-headed arrow, swiftly cuts Nakula’s bow, depriving him of his primary means of fighting.