Shloka 203
भीमसेनस्य वेगाभिपातः—विशोकसारथिसंवादश्च
Bhīma’s surge and dialogue with charioteer Viśoka
द्रौणिक्षिच्छेद विहसन् विव्याध च शरैस्त्रिभि: । उसके बाद अमेय आत्मबलसे सम्पन्न द्रोणकुमारने धर्मराजके धनुषको काट डाला और हँसते-हँसते तीन बाणोंद्वारा पुनः उन्हें घायल कर दिया
sañjaya uvāca | drauṇikṣiccheda vihasan vivyādha ca śarais tribhiḥ |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Habang tumatawa, pinutol ng anak ni Droṇa ang busog ni Drauṇikṣi, at saka muli siyang tinamaan ng tatlong palaso. Ipinapakita ng tagpong ito ang malupit na agos ng labanan—kung saan ang husay at panlilibak ay nagsasanib upang ipahiya ang kalaban at ipagpatuloy ang pagdiin ng bentahe nang walang pahinga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, technical mastery can be used not only to defeat but also to demean—laughter accompanying the act signals a lapse from restraint (saṃyama) and compassion, reminding readers that victory pursued with mockery and cruelty deepens moral injury even amid kṣatriya duty.
Sañjaya reports a rapid exchange in battle: Drauṇikṣi (the son of Droṇa, i.e., Aśvatthāmā) severs the opponent’s bow and immediately follows up by wounding him with three arrows, doing so while laughing—an aggressive, demoralizing tactic meant to break resistance.