Shloka 776
Śalya-hatānantarāṇi: Madrarāja-padānugānāṃ praskandana and the Pandava counter-encirclement (शल्यहतानन्तराणि—मद्रराजपदानुगानां प्रस्कन्दनम्)
अश्वांस्तस्थावधीत् तूर्णमुभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी । तत्पश्चात् सुसंयत भल्लोंके प्रहारसे उसके रथ, जूए और ईषादण्ड (हरसे)-को काटकर शीघ्र ही घोड़ों तथा दोनों पारशश्वरक्षकोंको भी मार डाला
sañjaya uvāca |
aśvān tasthāv adhīt tūrṇam ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī |
tatpaścāt susaṃyata-bhallaiḥ prahāra-sevayā tasya rathaṃ yugaṃ ca īṣādaṇḍaṃ ca ciccheda, śīghram aśvān ubhau ca pārṣṇisārathīś ca jaghāna |
Sanjaya disse: Mantendo-se firme, ele abateu rapidamente os cavalos e também os dois assistentes postados na retaguarda do carro. Em seguida, com flechas bem apontadas, afiadas como lâminas e disparadas em rápida sucessão, cortou o carro do adversário, o jugo e o varal; e, sem demora, matou ainda os cavalos e os dois condutores de retaguarda.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, technical mastery and strategic targeting (disabling the chariot’s structure and support) can decide outcomes, while also exposing the ethical burden of collateral suffering—attendants and animals become vulnerable despite not being principal combatants.
In Sanjaya’s report of the battle, a warrior rapidly kills the horses and the two rear chariot-attendants, then uses well-aimed broad-headed arrows to cut the opponent’s chariot components—chariot, yoke, and pole—thereby immobilizing and dismantling the enemy’s fighting platform.