Shloka 26
Book 9 (Śalya-parva), Adhyāya 13 — Arjuna’s Arrow-storm and the Drauṇi Confrontation
गदां च सहदेवेन शरौघै: समवारयत् | इसी प्रकार उन्होंने नकुलकी चलायी हुई स्वर्ण-दण्ड-विभूषित भयंकर शक्तिका तथा सहदेवकी फेंकी हुई गदाका भी अपने बाणसमूहोंद्वारा निवारण कर दिया ।। शराभ्यां च शतध्नीं तां राज्ञश्चिच्छेद भारत
gadāṃ ca sahadevena śaraughaiḥ samavārayat | śarābhyāṃ ca śatadhnīṃ tāṃ rājñaś ciccheda bhārata ||
सञ्जय उवाच—स शरौघैः सहदेवप्रहितां गदां समवारयत्। नकुलप्रेषितां च हेमदण्डां भयावहां शक्तिं बाणवृष्ट्या निवार्य, राज्ञः शतघ्नीं तां द्वाभ्यां शराभ्यां चिच्छेद, हे भारत।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of disciplined prowess: even amid lethal violence, mastery and alertness function as a form of restraint—neutralizing threats swiftly to protect one’s side. It also underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethical tension: excellence in war is admired, yet it serves a tragic, destructive end.
In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a warrior counters Sahadeva’s thrown mace with a concentrated volley of arrows, and then severs a powerful śataghni weapon with two arrows. The scene emphasizes rapid defensive skill and the escalation of weaponry in the Shalya Parva battles.