Mahabharata 9.10.42 — Shalya Parva, Adhyaya 10, Shloka 42
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
चतुर्भिश्वतुरो वाहान् ध्वजं छित्त्वा च पञचभि:
caturbhiś caturaḥ vāhān dhvajaṃ chittvā ca pañcabhiḥ
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan empat (anak panah) dia menumbangkan keempat-empat kuda, dan dengan lima dia memutuskan panji—suatu perbuatan yang memperlihatkan ketepatan kejam kemahiran medan perang, di mana sasaran bukan sekadar melukai pahlawan, tetapi melumpuhkan kekuatan kereta dan semangatnya dengan memukul penopang serta lambangnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, effectiveness often lies in disabling the opponent’s capacity and morale (horses and banner) rather than merely striking the person—showing the ethical tension of kṣatriya warfare where skill serves victory within the harsh logic of battle.
Sañjaya reports a combat feat: a warrior (implied from context) shoots with such accuracy that four horses are cut down with four shots, and the chariot’s banner is severed with five, crippling mobility and symbolically humiliating the opponent.
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