अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
अशेत निशित: पत्री समरेष्वरिसूदन: । भीष्मद्रोणमुखान् वीरान् योडवमन्ये महारथान्
aśeta niśitaḥ patrī samareṣv arisūdanaḥ | bhīṣmadroṇamukhān vīrān yodham anye mahārathān ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Di medan pertempuran, anak panah berbulu tajam itu tergeletak di sana—pembunuh musuh—setelah menumbangkan para pahlawan maharatha, terutama Bhīṣma dan Droṇa, serta para pejuang kereta besar yang lain juga.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the stark reality that even the greatest heroes can be brought down by a single effective weapon in war, pointing to the fragility of fame and strength and the heavy ethical cost inherent in battlefield duty.
Vaiśampāyana describes a sharp, feathered arrow lying on the battlefield after having felled renowned warriors—named foremost as Bhīṣma and Droṇa—along with other great chariot-fighters, emphasizing the lethal aftermath of combat.