Adhyāya 141 — Night duels: Śaineya and Bhūriśravas; Droṇi and Ghaṭotkaca; Bhīma and Duryodhana
स धनु: सूतपुत्रस्य सज्यं छित्ता महानसि:
sa dhanuḥ sūtaputrasya sajyaṃ chittvā mahān asi
सञ्जय उवाच—सूतपुत्रस्य धनुः सज्यं सन्नद्धं च छित्त्वा त्वं महाबाहो महत्त्वं प्रकटितवानसि।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the ideal of martial excellence and decisive action in battle: disabling an opponent by severing a weapon at the moment it is ready underscores mastery, courage, and the harsh ethical reality of war where skill can determine destiny.
Sañjaya describes a battlefield feat in which the bow belonging to the ‘charioteer’s son’ (Karna) is cut while strung, and he praises the doer as ‘great’ for accomplishing such a difficult act amid combat.