Mahabharata 7.25.55 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 25, Shloka 55
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 25 — Bhīma’s Disruption of Elephant Formations and Bhagadatta’s Shock Advance
अथाप्लुत्य रथात् तूर्ण यूपकेतुरमित्रहा । साश्व॒सूतध्वजरथं तं चकर्त वरासिना
athāplutya rathāt tūrṇaṃ yūpaketur amitrahā | sāśva-sūta-dhvaja-rathaṃ taṃ cacarta varāsinā ||
తర్వాత శత్రుహంత యూపకేతు రథం నుండి వేగంగా దూకి, శ్రేష్ఠ ఖడ్గంతో ఆ యోధుని—గుర్రాలు, సారథి, ధ్వజం, రథం సహా—చీల్చి పడేశాడు।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim ethical tension of kṣatriya warfare: martial excellence is praised, yet the means is total destruction. It invites reflection on how duty and victory in war can demand actions that are effective but morally heavy.
Sañjaya reports that Yūpaketu jumps down from his chariot and, with a fine sword, cuts down his opponent along with the entire chariot apparatus—horses, charioteer, banner, and chariot—neutralizing the enemy’s fighting capacity at once.
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