Shloka 21
अध्याय २९: कर्णस्य शल्यं प्रति शापस्मरणं च युद्धनिश्चयः | Chapter 29: Karṇa recalls curses to Śalya and declares resolve for battle
ततो द्रौणेर्धनुश्छित्त्वा हत्वा चाश्वरथान् शरै: | कृपस्यापि तदत्युग्रं धनुश्चिच्छेद पाण्डव:
tato drauṇer dhanuś chittvā hatvā cāśvarathān śaraiḥ | kṛpasyāpi tad atyugraṃ dhanuś ciccheda pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: Então o Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), após cortar o arco do filho de Droṇa e, com flechas, abater seus cavalos e destruir seu carro, também despedaçou o arco de Kṛpa, de força terrível. A cena realça o domínio disciplinado de Arjuna: neutraliza armas e mobilidade para conter a capacidade de causar dano do inimigo, em vez de se entregar a mero morticínio.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, effective action can be guided by discipline and restraint: by disabling weapons and mobility (bows, chariots, horses), a warrior can reduce harm and control the battle’s escalation while still fulfilling kṣatriya-duty.
Arjuna first cuts Aśvatthāman’s bow, then destroys his chariot and horses with arrows, and subsequently breaks Kṛpa’s very formidable bow as well—rapidly disarming key opponents on the battlefield.