Shloka 46
अध्याय ९ — कर्णस्य प्रहारः, योधयुग्मनियोजनम्, शैनेय-कैकेययोर्युद्धविन्यासः
सौभद्रस्य महाबाहुर्व्यधमत् कार्मुकं शितै: । यश्च नागायुतप्राणं वजरंहसमच्युतम्
saubhadrasya mahābāhur vyadhamat kārmukaṃ śitaiḥ | yaś ca nāgāyutaprāṇaṃ vajraṃhasam acyutam ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśaṃpāyana: Binasag ng mandirigmang malalakas ang bisig ang busog ni Saubhadra sa pamamagitan ng matatalim na palaso; at pinabagsak din niya si Acyuta—na ang lakas-buhay ay sinasabing katumbas ng sampung libong elepante, at ang bilis ay gaya ng kidlat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of worldly strength and reputation in the face of war’s immediacy: even famed might (likened to ten thousand elephants) and extraordinary speed (thunderbolt-like) can be overcome. Ethically, it points to the tragic cost of kṣatriya conflict, where skill is exercised within duty yet results in swift destruction.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates a combat moment: a mighty warrior breaks Saubhadra’s (Abhimanyu’s) bow with sharp arrows and also strikes down a figure named Acyuta, described with hyperbolic strength and speed. The scene conveys a decisive turn in the exchange of weapons and advantage on the battlefield.