Shloka 27
Ulūpī–Citravāhinī Saṃvāda: Dhanaṃjaya-patana and Prāya-threat
तान् स गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तान् वज़्ाशनिसमप्रभान् । नाराचानच्छिनद् राजा भल्लै:सर्वास्त्रिधा द्विधा
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
tān sa gāṇḍīva-nirmuktān vajrāśani-samaprabhān |
nārācān acchinad rājā bhallaiḥ sarvāṃs tridhā dvidhā ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Pinutol ng hari ang mga palasong nārāca na pinakawalan mula sa Gāṇḍīva—nagniningas na tila kulog at kidlat—at sa pamamagitan ng kaniyang mga palasong bhalla ay hinati ang bawat isa sa dalawa o tatlong piraso.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined kṣatriya conduct: power is guided by skill, focus, and restraint. Even in violent conflict, mastery and control—rather than uncontrolled rage—define righteous martial excellence.
Arrows shot from the famed Gāṇḍīva blaze like lightning, but the king counters by slicing those incoming shafts with his own bhalla arrows, splitting them into two or three pieces before they can strike.