Shloka 44
Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra
Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
श्वेत: क्रोधात् प्रजज्वाल हविषा हव्यवाडिव । अपने भाई उत्तरको मारा गया और शल्यको कृतवर्मके साथ रथपर बैठा हुआ देख विराटपुत्र श्वेत क्रोधसे जल उठे, मानो अग्निमें घीकी आहुति पड़ गयी हो ।। ४३ ह ।। स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शक्रचापोपमं बली
śvetaḥ krodhāt prajajvāla haviṣā havyavāḍ iva | sa visphārya mahācāpaṃ śakracāpōpamaṃ balī ||
قال سنجيا: اشتعل شْوِيتا غضبًا كالنار القربانية إذا أُغذيت بالسمن المصفّى. فلما رأى أخاه أُتَّرَةَ صريعًا، ورأى شَليَةَ جالسًا على العربة مع كِرِتَفَرْمَن، مدَّ أميرُ فيرَاطَةَ الجبّار قوسَه العظيم—كقوس إندرا—مستعدًّا لأن يجيب الموتَ بقوةٍ حاسمة. ويصوّر المقطعُ الغضبَ المبرَّر جوابًا لفقدٍ فادح، لكنه يضعه ضمن فعل المحارب المنضبط المقيَّد بسنن ساحة القتال.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how intense emotion—especially grief-born anger—can arise naturally, yet a warrior’s dharma channels it into disciplined action rather than uncontrolled violence. The simile of fire fed by ghee suggests anger’s rapid intensification, warning that such energy must be governed by duty and restraint.
Sañjaya describes Śveta, son of King Virāṭa, erupting in fury after seeing his brother Uttara killed and noticing Śalya riding on a chariot with Kṛtavarman. Śveta then draws his great bow, likened to Indra’s, signaling his readiness to engage them in battle.