Shloka 41
शकुनिवधः — Sahadeva’s Slaying of Śakuni
with Ulūka’s fall
त॑ निहत्य ततः पार्थ: सुशर्माणं त्रिभि: शरै:
taṁ nihatya tataḥ pārthaḥ suśarmāṇaṁ tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
Sañjaya disse: Tendo-o abatido, então Pārtha (Arjuna) atingiu Suśarmā com três flechas—imagem de uma força veloz e disciplinada no seio da guerra justa, em que, uma vez assumido o dever do combate, a perícia se exerce sem hesitação.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores kṣatriya-dharma in wartime: once battle is joined under rightful command, decisive action and disciplined skill are required, not wavering—power is exercised as duty rather than personal cruelty.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna, after killing an unnamed opponent (“him”), immediately turns his attention to Suśarmā and pierces him with three arrows, continuing the rapid sequence of combat in the Śalya Parva.