Shloka 76
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
चतुर्भिश्व जघानाश्वाञ्छवेतस्य पृतनापते: । ध्वजं द्वाभ्यां तु चिच्छेद सप्तमेन च सारथे:
caturbhiś ca jaghānāśvān śvetasya pṛtanāpateḥ | dhvajaṃ dvābhyāṃ tu ciccheda saptamena ca sārathiḥ ||
సంజయుడు పలికెను—నాలుగు బాణాలతో అతడు శ్వేత సేనాపతి రథాశ్వాలను కూల్చివేశాడు; మరో రెండు బాణాలతో ధ్వజాన్ని తెంచాడు; ఏడవ బాణంతో సారథినీ పడగొట్టాడు।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, effectiveness often comes from disabling an opponent’s supports—mobility (horses), identity and morale (banner), and coordination (charioteer). Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s stark portrayal of conflict: skill and strategy can be admirable, yet they operate within a destructive arena that rapidly escalates suffering.
Sañjaya reports a rapid sequence of archery: four arrows bring down Śveta’s horses, two cut his banner, and a seventh strikes down the charioteer—leaving Śveta’s chariot effectively neutralized and exposed.