Shloka 4
द्वैपायनह्रदे दुर्योधनान्वेषणम् / The Search for Duryodhana at Dvaipāyana Lake
संगृहीतायुधान् बाहूनू योधानामधिधावताम् । भल्लैश्विच्छेद बीभत्सु: शिरांस्पपि हयानपि,सहदेवपर धावा करनेवाले उन योद्धाओंकी अस्त्र-शस्त्रयुक्त भुजाओं, मस्तकों और उनके घोड़ोंको भी अर्जुनने भल्लोंसे काट गिराया
saṅgṛhītāyudhān bāhūn yodhānām adhidhāvatām | bhallaiś ciccheda bībhatsuḥ śirāṃsi api hayān api ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ketika para pahlawan mara ke hadapan dengan senjata di tangan, Bībhatsu (Arjuna) menebas dengan anak panah bhalla yang tajam lengan-lengan yang memegang senjata, kepala-kepala mereka, bahkan kuda-kuda mereka—menahan serbuan itu dengan daya yang tepat dan tanpa belas, di tengah gelanggang perang.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its stark form: when battle is joined, a warrior must act decisively and skillfully to stop an aggressor’s charge. It also underscores the ethical tension of war—effective action can be precise and controlled, yet still entails grave harm and responsibility.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna (called Bībhatsu) meeting a forward charge by enemy warriors. Using bhalla-arrows, he severs their weapon-bearing arms and heads, and brings down their horses as well, breaking the momentum of the attack.