Shloka 203
भीमसेनस्य कौरवसुतवधः तथा श्रुतर्वावधः
Slaying of Kaurava princes and the fall of Śrutarvā
अश्वांश्व चतुरो हत्वा बाह्दोरुरसि चार्पित: । राजन्! आपके धनुर्धर पुत्रने बहुत-से नाराच
aśvānś caturō hatvā bāhvor urasi cārpitaḥ | rājan, tava dhanurdharaḥ putro bahubhir nārācair ardha-nārācaiḥ śīghrakāribhir vatsadantaiḥ kārīgaraiḥ saṃśodhitaiś ca bāṇair dhṛṣṭadyumnasya caturaḥ aśvān jaghāna, tasya ca bāhū urasī ca vyathayām āsa |
Sañjaya berkata: Wahai Raja, putera tuanku yang mahir memanah, dengan melepaskan banyak anak panah berkepala besi—nārāca, separuh-nārāca, mata “gigi anak lembu” yang terbang pantas, serta peluru yang digilap rapi oleh tukang—telah membunuh keempat-empat kuda Dhṛṣṭadyumna dan turut melukai kedua-dua lengannya serta dadanya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial excellence and tactical choices in war—such as killing an opponent’s horses and disabling his body—can be effective yet morally heavy, reminding readers that kshatriya action (dharma in battle) still carries grave human cost.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that the king’s son, an expert archer, fires many specialized arrows, kills Dhrishtadyumna’s four horses, and wounds Dhrishtadyumna in the arms and chest, gaining battlefield advantage.