Chapter 23: Śakuni Reports, Kaurava Advance, and Arjuna’s Penetration of the Host
त्रिभि: शारद्वतं विद्धवा रुक्मपुड्खै: शिलाशितै: । चतुर्भिनिजघानाश्वान् नाराचै: कृतवर्मण:,उन्होंने शिलापर तेज किये हुए सुवर्णमय पंखवाले तीन बाणोंसे कृपाचार्यको घायल करके चार नाराचोंसे कृतवर्माके घोड़ोंको मार डाला
tribhiḥ śāradvatam viddhvā rukmapuṅkhaiḥ śilāśitaiḥ | caturbhir nijaghānāśvān nārācaiḥ kṛtavarmaṇaḥ ||
สัญชัยกล่าวว่า—เขายิงศารทวตะ (กฤปะ) ด้วยศรสามดอก ปีกทองคมกริบที่ลับบนหิน แล้วจึงใช้ศรนาราจสี่ดอกสังหารม้าศึกของกฤตวรมัน.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how, in dharma-yuddha narratives, martial excellence often expresses itself through tactical choices—such as disabling an opponent’s chariot by killing the horses—while simultaneously reminding the listener of the grave ethical cost inherent in warfare.
Sañjaya reports that a warrior first wounds Kṛpa (Śāradvata) with three stone-honed, golden-feathered arrows, and then uses four heavy nārāca shafts to kill the horses of Kṛtavarman, effectively impairing his movement and combat capacity.