Shloka 14
शल्य–युधिष्ठिरयुद्धप्रारम्भः
Commencement of the Śalya–Yudhiṣṭhira Duel
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत शल्यपर्वमें संकुलयुद्धविषयक चौदहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
sarvapārṣṇavaiḥ bāṇaiḥ karmāraparimārjitaiḥ | svarṇapuṅkhaiḥ śilādhautaiḥ dhanuryantrapracoditaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Anak-anak panah itu semuanya daripada besi, dibersihkan dan digilap rapi oleh tukang besi. Ia berjalur bulu emas, diasah di atas batu hingga tajam, dan dilepaskan dengan daya busur yang bertindak seperti enjin yang tepat. Huraian ini menonjolkan kecekapan perang yang ditempa dengan sengaja—apabila kemahiran dan niat manusia menjadikan alat sebagai senjata maut.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war depends not only on bravery but on deliberate preparation—craft, sharpening, and mechanical force. Ethically, it points to the sobering reality that human skill can magnify harm when directed toward violence, urging reflection on intention and responsibility.
Sañjaya describes the arrows being used in the battle: iron shafts, expertly polished by a smith, fitted with golden fletching, sharpened on stone, and shot with the full impetus of the bow—emphasizing the intensity and technical precision of the fighting.