Shloka 26
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
प्रत्याश्व॒स्य च दुर्धर्ष.: सहदेवो विशाम्पते
pratyāśvasya ca durdharṣaḥ sahadevo viśāmpate prajānātha itanehīme svasthaḥ kṛtvā durdharṣo vīraḥ sahadevaḥ hasann iva daśabhir bāṇaiḥ śakunim avidhyat, tribhiś ca bāṇaiḥ tasya hayān jaghāna, punar hasann iva anekair bāṇaiḥ subalaputrasya dhanuś ca ṭūk-ṭūkam acchinat.
Санджая сказал: О владыка людей, придя в себя и вновь обретя спокойствие, неприступный герой Сахадева — словно улыбаясь — пронзил Шакуни десятью стрелами. Ещё тремя стрелами он сразил коней Шакуни, а затем, всё так же будто улыбаясь, градом стрел разнёс лук сына Субалы на куски.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined warrior conduct: after being shaken, one should regain composure (svastha/pratyāśvasya) and act with precise, proportionate force—first wounding the foe, then disabling mobility (horses), and finally neutralizing the weapon (bow). It presents steadiness and tactical restraint as part of kṣatriya-dharma in battle.
Sañjaya describes Sahadeva recovering his steadiness and then attacking Śakuni: he pierces Śakuni with ten arrows, kills his horses with three arrows, and breaks Śakuni’s bow into pieces with many arrows, doing so ‘as if smiling,’ indicating confidence and dominance in the exchange.