Shloka 326
नारायणास्त्र-शमनं द्रौणि-प्रहारश्च
Pacification of the Nārāyaṇāstra and Drauni’s Renewed Assault
आजलेने बहुभिर्बाणर्जिघांसन्निव भारत । भरतनन्दन! युद्धस्थलमें शिखण्डीको शिथिल हुआ देख शरद्वानके पुत्र कृपाचार्यने उसपर बहुत-से बाणोंका प्रहार किया, मानो वे उसे मार डालना चाहते हों
sañjaya uvāca | ājalenā bahubhir bāṇair jighāṃsann iva bhārata | bharatanandana yuddhasthale śikhaṇḍinaṃ śithilaṃ dṛṣṭvā śaradvataputraḥ kṛpācāryas tasyopari bahūn bāṇān prāharat, iva taṃ mārayitum icchan |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: O Bharata, na wari’y ibig siyang patayin, si Kṛpācārya—anak ni Śaradvat—ay nagpaulan ng napakaraming palaso. Nang makita niyang nanghihina si Śikhaṇḍī sa larangan, paulit-ulit niya itong tinamaan, dala ng malupit na pagmamadali ng digmaan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh logic of battlefield duty (kṣatriya-dharma): when an opponent is weakened, warriors may press the advantage decisively. Ethically, it underscores how war compresses moral choice into survival and victory, often overriding gentler impulses.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Kripacharya, son of Sharadvat, sees Shikhandi faltering in the fight and therefore showers him with many arrows, as though determined to kill him.