Mahabharata 7.95.33 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 95, Shloka 33
Droṇa-parva Adhyāya 95 — Sātyaki’s Breakthrough and the Routing of Allied Contingents
तेषामापततां शीघ्र गाण्डीवप्रेषितै: शरै: । निचकर्त शिरांस्य॒ग्रो बाहूनपि सुभूषणान्
teṣām āpatatāṁ śīghraṁ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ | nicakarta śirāṁsy agro bāhūn api subhūṣaṇān ||
వారు వేగంగా దూసుకొస్తుండగా, ఉగ్ర యుద్ధరూపుడైన అర్జునుడు గాండీవం నుంచి విడిచిన బాణాలతో వారి శిరస్సులను, సుభూషిత భుజాలను కూడా క్షణంలోనే నరికివేశాడు।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh but traditional kṣatriya ethic: in a battlefield context, an onrushing attack is answered with swift, effective counterforce. It also frames Arjuna’s action as disciplined martial execution rather than personal cruelty, as reported neutrally by Sañjaya.
As enemy fighters charge toward him, Arjuna shoots arrows from his bow Gāṇḍīva and quickly severs their heads and ornamented arms, halting the assault through overwhelming archery.
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