Shloka 21
इन्द्रजिद्-लक्ष्मणयुद्धम्
Indrajit and Lakṣmaṇa: Escalation through Concealment
नकुलस्तस्य नागस्य समीपपरिवर्तिन: । सविषाणं भुजं मूले खड्गेन निरकृन्तत
nakulastasya nāgasya samīpaparivartinaḥ | saviṣāṇaṃ bhujaṃ mūle khaḍgena nirakṛntata ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: Nakula lượn sát quanh con vật ấy và bằng kiếm chém đứt tận gốc cái phần như cánh tay mang mũi nhọn như sừng.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined bravery: when confronted with immediate threat, one should act decisively and skillfully, minimizing harm by targeting the source of danger rather than lashing out blindly.
As the serpent moves nearby, Nakula maneuvers close and severs at the base, with his sword, a horn-bearing arm-like limb of the serpent—an action within a tense encounter involving the Pāṇḍavas and a nāga.