Shloka 83
तथापि त॑ प्रस्फुरदात्तकार्मुकं त्रिभि: शरैर्यन्तृशिर: क्षुरेण । हयांश्वतुर्भिश्व पुनस्त्रिभिर्ध्वजं धनंजयो द्रौणिरथादपातयत्
tathāpi taṁ prasphuradāttakārmukaṁ tribhiḥ śarair yantṛśiraḥ kṣureṇa | hayāṁś caturbhiś ca punas tribhir dhvajaṁ dhanaṁjayo drauṇirathād apātayat ||
Ainda assim, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) derrubou do carro de Aśvatthāman: com três flechas, o seu arco reluzente erguido; com um dardo de ponta cortante, a cabeça do cocheiro; com quatro flechas, os quatro cavalos; e, de novo, com três flechas, o estandarte. A cena ressalta a precisão implacável da perícia no campo de batalha—onde o domínio das armas, e não a misericórdia, governa o desfecho imediato, enquanto a guerra maior continua a testar os limites do dharma.
कर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the immediacy of war, technical mastery and decisive action dominate; yet it implicitly raises ethical tension: even rightful combat (kṣatriya-dharma) can involve extreme violence, reminding readers that dharma in war is complex and often judged by intent, necessity, and proportionality.
Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) devastates Aśvatthāman’s chariot setup: he knocks down the bow, kills the charioteer with a razor-edged shot, brings down the four horses, and fells the banner—effectively disabling the chariot and turning the tide of that exchange.