Shloka 21
भूरिश्रवसः गर्हा, प्रायोपवेशः, सात्यकिकृतशिरच्छेदः
Bhūriśravas’s Censure, Prāyopaveśa, and Sātyaki’s Beheading
प्रहसंश्षास्य चिच्छेद कार्मुकं रिपुभीषणम् । नागं मणिमयं चैव शरैर्ध्वजमपातयत्,इसके बाद युयुधानने हँसते हुए ही दुर्योधनके शत्रु भीषण धनुषको और मणिमय नागसे चिह्नित ध्वजको भी बाणोंद्वारा काट गिराया
prahasaṁś cāsyāśu ciccheda kārmukaṁ ripubhīṣaṇam | nāgaṁ maṇimayaṁ caiva śaraiḥ dhvajam apātayat ||
सञ्जय उवाच—प्रहसन् स तस्य रिपुभीषणं कार्मुकं चिच्छेद। शरैश्च मणिमयं नागचिह्नं ध्वजं चापातयत्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a warrior’s strategic aim in battle: not only to wound but to shatter the opponent’s symbols of power (bow and banner), thereby undermining morale and pride. It reflects kṣatriya-dharma where prowess is displayed through decisive, targeted action.
Sañjaya reports that Yuyudhāna (Sātyaki), with confident laughter, severs Duryodhana’s fearsome bow and then shoots down his banner bearing a jeweled serpent emblem, marking a moment of dominance in the ongoing combat.