Shloka 34
ततः संधाय विमलान् भल्लान् कर्मारमार्जितान्,तत्पश्चात् उसने लोहारके माँजे हुए सात चमकीले भल्लोंको धनुषपर रखकर चलाया। उनमेंसे चारके द्वारा उसने नीलके चारों घोड़ोंको और पाँचवेंसे सारथिको मार डाला। छठेसे ध्वजको काट गिराया और सातवें भल्लसे नीलकी छातीमें प्रहार किया
tataḥ saṃdhāya vimalān bhallān karmāramārjitān, tatpaścāt sa lohārake māñje huye sapta camakīle bhallōṃko dhanuṣpar rakhkar calāyā; teṣāṃ madhye catvārbhiḥ sa nīlasya catvāro ’śvān, pañcamena sārathim ajaghāna; ṣaṣṭhena dhvajam acchinat, saptamena bhallena nīlasya vakṣasi prāharat.
ततः सन्धाय विमलान् भल्लान् कर्मारमार्जितान् । मुमोच सप्त दीप्तांश्चतुरश्वान् न्यपातयत् । पञ्चमेन हतं सूतं षष्ठेन पतितो ध्वजः । सप्तमेन च भल्लेन नीलं विव्याध वक्षसि ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined, technical nature of warfare—how skill can systematically disable an opponent (horses, charioteer, banner) before delivering a decisive strike. Ethically, it points to the heavy reality that martial excellence, when exercised in war, carries lethal consequences even when performed as a warrior’s duty.
A warrior releases seven polished bhalla arrows in sequence: four kill Nila’s four horses, the fifth kills the charioteer, the sixth cuts down the banner, and the seventh strikes Nila in the chest—effectively crippling the chariot and then wounding the principal fighter.