Shloka 8
Adhyāya 21 — Duryodhanasya bāṇavarṣaḥ
Duryodhana’s Arrow-Storm and the Dust-Obscured Engagements
स समासाद्य राजान क्षेमधूर्ति महाबलम् । सप्तभिर्निशितैर्बाणैरनयद् यमसादनम्,उन्होंने आते ही महाबली राजा क्षेमधूर्तिको सात पैने बाणोंसे मारकर यमलोक पहुँचा दिया
sa samāsādya rājānaṁ kṣemadhūrtiṁ mahābalam | saptabhir niśitair bāṇair anayad yamasādanam ||
सञ्जय उवाच—स समासाद्य महाबलं राजानं क्षेमधूर्तिं, सप्तभिर्निशितैर्बाणैः ताडयामास; तेन स यमसादनं नीतः। रणभूमौ तस्य प्राणान्तोऽभवत्, युद्धस्य निर्दयगत्या।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the stark moral atmosphere of Kurukṣetra: in war, especially kṣatriya-conflict, death comes swiftly through skill and force, reminding the listener of life’s fragility and the inexorable reach of Yama (mortality).
Sañjaya reports that a warrior (implied from the prior context) advances on King Kṣemadhūrti and kills him with seven sharp arrows, metaphorically described as sending him to Yama’s dwelling—i.e., causing his death.