Shloka 41
भगदत्तस्तु राजानं द्रुप्दं नतपर्वभि: । सनियन्तृध्वजरथं विव्याध पुरुषर्षभ:
bhagadattas tu rājānaṃ drupadaṃ nataparvabhiḥ | sa-niyantṛ-dhvaja-rathaṃ vivyādha puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||
भगदत्तस्तु राजानं द्रुपदं नतपर्वभिः। सनियन्तृध्वजरथं विव्याध पुरुषर्षभः॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the relentless force of kṣatriya warfare: prowess is shown not only by striking the opponent but by disabling the chariot system (driver and banner), emphasizing how martial skill can rapidly shift a battle’s balance and intensify the ethical weight of combat.
Sañjaya reports that Bhagadatta assaults King Drupada, shooting him with distinctive bent-jointed arrows and also piercing Drupada’s chariot—its charioteer and banner—signaling a severe tactical blow against Drupada in the ongoing battle.