Shloka 35
अभिमन्यु–अलम्बुसयुद्धम् / The Duel of Abhimanyu and Alambusa
with Arjuna’s approach to Bhīṣma
जघान चतुरो वाहान् साररथिं ध्वजमेव च | सप्तमेन च भल्लेन नीलं विव्याध वक्षसि,तत्पश्चात् उसने लोहारके माँजे हुए सात चमकीले भल्लोंको धनुषपर रखकर चलाया। उनमेंसे चारके द्वारा उसने नीलके चारों घोड़ोंको और पाँचवेंसे सारथिको मार डाला। छठेसे ध्वजको काट गिराया और सातवें भल्लसे नीलकी छातीमें प्रहार किया
sañjaya uvāca |
jaghāna caturo vāhān sārathiṃ dhvajam eva ca |
saptamena ca bhallena nīlaṃ vivyādha vakṣasi ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Sa matatalim na palaso, ibinagsak niya ang apat na kabayo ni Nīla, saka pinatay ang kutsero, at pinutol pati ang watawat. Sa ikapitong bhalla, tinuhog niya si Nīla sa dibdib.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how warfare targets not only the warrior but also the supports of agency—mobility (horses), direction (charioteer), and identity/morale (banner). It invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma: skill and duty in battle can be executed with clinical efficiency, yet remain ethically weighty because they systematically remove an opponent’s capacity to act.
Sañjaya describes a combatant using seven bhalla arrows in sequence: four kill Nīla’s four horses, the fifth kills the charioteer, the sixth cuts down the banner, and the seventh pierces Nīla in the chest.