Shloka 45
द्रौणिप्रतिज्ञा–नारायणास्त्रवर्णनम्
Drauṇi’s Vow and the Description of the Nārāyaṇāstra
आप्लुत: स ततो यान॑ सुतसोमस्य भास्वरम् | धनुर्गह्ा महाराज विव्याध तनयं तव,महाराज! तब प्रतिविन्ध्य उछलकर सुतसोमके तेजस्वी रथपर जा बैठा और हाथमें धनुष लेकर आपके पुत्रको घायल करने लगा
āplutaḥ sa tato yānaṃ sutasomasya bhāsvaram | dhanur gṛhya mahārāja vivyādha tanayaṃ tava ||
सञ्जय उवाच—आप्लुतः स ततो यानं सुतसोमस्य भास्वरम्। धनुर्गृह्य महाराज विव्याध तनयं तव॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic where swift initiative and martial duty (kṣatriya-dharma) dominate; personal ties and ordinary compassion are subordinated to the immediate demands of combat, raising the moral tension between duty and humane restraint.
Prativindhya leaps onto Sutasoma’s brilliant chariot, takes up a bow, and proceeds to strike/wound Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son, as Sañjaya reports the unfolding combat to the king.