Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 37
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
पातयित्वा हयानू् सर्वास्त्रिगर्तानां रथान् ययौ । पार्थने अपने बहुसंख्यक बाणोंद्वारा घुड़सवारोंकी उस सेनाको छिजन्न-भिन्न कर डाला तथा समस्त घोड़ोंको धराशायी करके त्रिगर्तदेशीय रथियोंपर चढ़ाई कर दी ।।
pātayitvā hayān sarvās trigartānāṁ rathān yayau | pārthena bahusaṅkhyakair bāṇair aśvārūḍhānāṁ senā chinnabhinna-kṛtā, sarvāṁś ca hayān dharāśāyīn kṛtvā trigartadeśīyeṣu rathikeṣu abhyadravat || tataḥ te sahitā bhūtvā trigartānāṁ mahārathāḥ ... ||
Disse Sañjaya: Tendo derrubado os cavalos, avançou contra todos os carros dos Trigartas. Com uma imensa multidão de flechas, Pārtha despedaçou a força dos cavaleiros; e, após fazer tombar todos os seus cavalos ao chão, investiu contra os guerreiros de carro dos Trigartas. Então aqueles grandes combatentes em carro dos Trigartas, reunindo-se num só corpo, (prepararam-se para responder).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its battlefield form: disciplined force directed toward a clear tactical aim. Arjuna’s action—disabling mobility by felling horses and then pressing the chariot-warriors—shows strategic restraint within violence: victory is pursued through skill and method rather than indiscriminate slaughter.
Sañjaya narrates Arjuna’s assault on the Trigarta contingent. Arjuna brings down horses, breaks the mounted troops with many arrows, and then advances upon the Trigarta chariot-fighters. In response, the Trigarta mahārathas regroup together to counter him.