Shloka 70
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
वैवस्वतक्षयं घोरं प्रेषयामास भारत । सारथिं चास्य भल््लेन प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे,तब शत्रुसूदन द्रोणने पुनः धृष्टद्युम्मका धनुष काट दिया और चार उत्तम सायकोंद्वारा उनके चारों घोड़ोंको तुरंत ही भयानक यमलोकको भेज दिया। भारत! फिर एक भल्ल्लके द्वारा उनके सारथिको भी मृत्युके हवाले कर दिया
vaiśvata-kṣayaṃ ghoraṃ preṣayāmāsa bhārata | sārathiṃ cāsya bhallena preṣayāmāsa mṛtyave ||
वैवस्वतक्षयं घोरं प्रेषयामास भारत । सारथिं चास्य भल्लेन प्रेषयामास मृत्यवे ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the stark moral gravity of war: victory often comes by dismantling the opponent’s supports (horses, charioteer), showing how quickly life and agency can be extinguished. It invites reflection on kṣatriya-duty performed amid inevitable suffering and the inescapable presence of Death (Yama/Mṛtyu) on the battlefield.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior strikes decisively: the horses are sent to Yama’s dreadful realm, and the charioteer is killed with a bhalla-arrow—rendering the chariot ineffective and leaving the warrior vulnerable.