Shloka 263
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
दुर्योधनस्योत्तमरत्नचित्रं चिच्छेद पार्थो मुकुर्ट शरेण । फिर अअभश्रवत्थामा, कृपाचार्य तथा अन्य माननीय (बाह्लीक, सोमदत्त आदि) कौरवोंको बाणोंकी विचित्र रीतिसे नमस्कार करके पार्थने एक बाण मारकर दुर्योधनके उत्तम रत्नजटित विचित्र मुकुटको काट डाला
duryodhanasyottamaratnacitraṃ ciccheda pārtho mukuṭaśareṇa |
Disse Vaiśaṃpāyana: Arjuna (Pārtha) decepou com uma única flecha a esplêndida coroa de Duryodhana, incrustada de joias. Em pleno combate, o gesto funcionou como humilhação deliberada e demonstração medida de maestria—afirmando superioridade sem tirar de imediato a vida—e assim realçou a capacidade do guerreiro de conter a violência mesmo ao cumprir o dever do kṣatriya na guerra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in righteous warfare, power is ideally governed by restraint: a warrior may demonstrate superiority and uphold duty without needless killing, using skill to check arrogance and signal moral and tactical dominance.
During the battle episode narrated by Vaiśampāyana, Arjuna shoots an arrow that slices off Duryodhana’s ornate, jewel-studded crown—an emphatic battlefield gesture of defeat and humiliation rather than an immediate lethal strike.