Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 4
धृतराष्ट्र-संजय-संवादः — दुर्योधनस्य ह्रदप्रवेशः
Dhṛtarāṣṭra–Saṃjaya Dialogue: Duryodhana’s Entry into the Lake
ते शूरा: समरे राजन् समासाद्य परस्परम्
sañjaya uvāca | te śūrāḥ samare rājan samāsādya parasparam kanka-mora-pakṣa-vat tīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ parasparam āghāta-pratyāghātaṃ cakruḥ | teṣāṃ te śarāḥ suvarṇa-puṅkhāḥ śilā-pariśuddhāḥ karṇānta-ākṛṣṭāḥ pramuktāś ca |
三阇耶说道：大王啊，那些勇士在战场上相逢，迎面相撞，便以锋利之箭互击互还；其箭羽如鹭与孔雀之翎。那些箭矢饰以金翼，砥石磨净，弓弦拉至耳畔方才放出，飞去皆带致命的精准。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the disciplined, reciprocal nature of battlefield violence—skill, preparation, and courage manifest as mutual injury. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya sphere where prowess is bound to conflict, reminding the listener of war’s grim symmetry: every blow invites a counterblow.
Sañjaya describes warriors meeting face to face and exchanging volleys of sharp arrows. The arrows are vividly characterized as golden-fletched, stone-honed, and shot at full draw, emphasizing the intensity and technical precision of the combat.