शतानीको ऽथ संक्रुद्धश् चित्रसेनस्य मारिष ॥
जघान चतुरो वाहान् सारथिं च नरोत्तमः ॥
अवप्लुत्य रथात् तस्माच् चित्रसेनो महारथः ॥
नाकुलिं पञ्चविंशत्या शराणाम् आर्दयद् बली ॥
तस्य तत् कुर्वतः कर्म नकुलस्य सुतो रणे ॥
अर्धचन्द्रेण चिच्छेद चापं रत्नविभूषितम् ॥
स छिन्नधन्वा विरथो हताश्वो हतसारथिः ॥
आरुरोह रथं तूर्णं हार्दिक्यस्य महात्मनः ॥
śatānīko 'tha saṃkruddhaś citrasenasya māriṣa ||
jaghāna caturo vāhān sārathiṃ ca narottamaḥ ||
avaplutya rathāt tasmāc citraseno mahārathaḥ ||
nākuliṃ pañcaviṃśatyā śarāṇām ārdayad balī ||
tasya tat kurvataḥ karma nakulasya suto raṇe ||
ardhacandreṇa ciccheda cāpaṃ ratnavibhūṣitam ||
sa chinnadhanvā viratho hatāśvo hatasārathiḥ ||
āruroha rathaṃ tūrṇaṃ hārdikyasya mahātmanaḥ ||
Then Shatanika, enraged, killed Citrasena's four horses and his charioteer, O venerable one, best of men. Leaping from that chariot, Citrasena, great warrior, struck the son of Nakula with twenty-five arrows, the mighty one. Him, as he performed that deed, the son of Nakula in battle cut with a crescent-headed arrow — his bow, adorned with gems. He, with his bow shattered, without a chariot, his horses and charioteer slain, swiftly mounted the chariot of Hardikya, great in spirit [Kritavarman].
85a14f67169b · publicado 19 jul 2026, 16:49:34 UTC
Disponible enRUENPasa de verso en verso con
The duel ends essentially in a draw: both lose their supports, and Citrasena saves himself on another's chariot. It is notable that the narrative does not rush to a resolution — neither man triumphs. The verse teaches that not every clash is crowned with one side's victory; there is combat between equals in which both exhaust their strength, and to retreat under an ally's protection is not shame but sound judgment. There is dignity, too, in recognizing in time that one's strength is spent, and in preserving oneself for the next battle.