Shloka 16
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
ततोअर्जुनस्तूर्णतरं रुक्मपुड्खानजिद्दवागान् | प्रेषयामास संक़ुद्धों भगदत्तात्मजं प्रति,तब कुपित हुए अर्जुनने तुरंत ही सोनेके पंखोंसे युक्त सीधे जानेवाले बाण वज्रदत्तपर चलाये। उन बाणोंसे अत्यन्त आहत और घायल होकर उस महासमरमें महातेजस्वी वज्रदत्त हाथीकी पीठसे पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा; परंतु इतनेपर भी वह बेहोश नहीं हुआ
tato 'rjunas tūrṇataraṁ rukmapuṅkhān ajiddavāgān preṣayāmāsa saṁkruddho bhagadattātmajaṁ prati |
ثم إن أرجونا، وقد اشتعل غضبُه، أسرع فأطلق سهامًا مستقيمةَ المسار ذاتَ ريشٍ من ذهب على فَجْرَدَتَّا (فَجْرَدَتَّا/فَجْرَدَتَّا: فَجْرَدَتَّا)، ابنِ بَهَغَدَتَّا. فأصابته تلك النبال إصابةً شديدةً وجرحته في خضمّ ذلك الالتحام العظيم، فسقط فَجْرَدَتَّا، المتألقُ الجليل، من على ظهر فيله إلى الأرض—ومع ذلك لم يفقد وعيه.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Kṣatriya battlefield ethic: decisive action and martial skill are expected, yet anger (saṁkruddha) is shown as a powerful driver that must be ethically governed. It also praises endurance—Vajradatta, though struck down, does not succumb to fainting—suggesting steadfastness under adversity.
Arjuna, angered, rapidly shoots straight-flying, gold-fletched arrows at Vajradatta (Bhagadatta’s son). The blows wound Vajradatta severely, causing him to fall from his elephant to the ground, but he remains conscious, indicating the fight is not yet concluded.