Mahabharata 7.18.22 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 18, Shloka 22
द्रोणपर्व — अध्याय १८: संशप्तकगणयुद्धे अर्जुनस्यास्त्रप्रयोगः
Drona Parva, Chapter 18: Arjuna’s astra-deployment against the Saṃśaptakas
सुधन्वनो धनुश्छित्त्वा हयांश्वास्यावधीच्छरै: । अथास्य सशिरस्त्राणं शिर: कायादपातयत्
sudhanvano dhanuś chittvā hayāṁś cāsyāvadhīc charaiḥ | athāsya saśirastrāṇaṁ śiraḥ kāyād apātayat ||
सुधन्वनो धनुश्छित्त्वा हयांश्चास्यावधीच्छरैः । अथास्य सशिरस्त्राणं शिरः कायादपातयत् ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: once battle is engaged, decisive action and martial competence determine survival. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between dharma as duty in war and the tragic cost of violence.
In Sanjaya’s report of the battle, a warrior (unnamed here) first disables Sudhanvan by cutting his bow, then kills his horses with arrows, and finally beheads him along with his helmet, causing the head to fall from the body.
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