Shloka 42
भीष्म-युधिष्ठिर-संमर्दः
Bhīṣma’s Pressure on Yudhiṣṭhira; Śikhaṇḍī’s Approach; Evening Withdrawal
क्षुरप्रेण सुतीक्ष्णेन प्रहसन्निव भारत । भारत! श्रुतकीर्ति जब बड़े जोर-जोरसे खींचकर अपने विशाल धनुषकी गम्भीर टंकार फैला रहा था, उसी समय रणभूमिमें आपके पुत्र जयत्सेनने हँसते हुए-से एक तीखे क्षुप्रद्वारा तुरंत उसका धनुष काट दिया ।।
kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena prahasann iva bhārata | śrutakīrtir yadā bhīmaṃ dhanuḥ śabdaṃ vitanvataḥ | tadā raṇe tava suto jayatseno hasann iva | kṣurapreṇāśu tac cāpaṃ ciccheda || taṃ dṛṣṭvā chinnadhanvānaṃ śatānīkaḥ sahodaram ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O Bhārata, habang buong lakas na hinihila ni Śrutakīrti ang kaniyang malaking busog at ikinakalat sa larangan ang malalim na ugong ng pisi, sa sandaling iyon ay si Jayatsena—ang iyong anak—na wari’y tumatawa, ay biglang pumutol sa busog sa pamamagitan ng isang palasong matalas na parang labaha. Nang makita ni Śatānīka ang kaniyang kapatid na si Śrutakīrti na nakatayo roon na putol ang busog, siya ay…”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how quickly battlefield fortunes turn: confidence and display (the bow’s thunderous twang) can be instantly checked by skillful counteraction. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring warning against overconfidence and the fragility of martial pride amid dharma-bound warfare.
Śrutakīrti is dramatically drawing and sounding his powerful bow. Jayatsena, Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son, promptly cuts Śrutakīrti’s bow with a sharp kṣurapra arrow, leaving him ‘bowless.’ Śatānīka then sees his brother in that state, setting up the next action.