Shloka 13
अर्जुन–उलूपीसंवादः
Arjuna and Ulūpī: Explanation of Śānti and the Maṇipūra Resolution
ध्वजे पताकादण्डेषु रथे यन्त्रे हयेषु च । अन्येषु च रथाज्रेषु न शरीरे न सारथौ
dhvaje patākādaṇḍeṣu rathe yantre hayeṣu ca | anyeṣu ca rathāṅgeṣu na śarīre na sārathau ||
Вайшампаяна сказал: Он поражал стрелами знаки и убранство колесницы — знамя, вымпелы, древко, остов, механизмы, коней и прочие части, — но не ранил ни тела воина, ни возничего.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, prowess is ideally governed by dharma: one may demonstrate superiority by disabling equipment and issuing a controlled warning, avoiding unnecessary injury—especially to non-combatant roles like the charioteer—when the narrative context permits restraint.
An archer targets the opponent’s chariot insignia and components—banner, flags, pole, mechanisms, horses, and other fittings—yet intentionally avoids hitting the warrior’s body and the charioteer, signaling both mastery of aim and a choice to limit harm.