Shloka 8
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
ततः पार्थ समासाद्य पाण्डवानां महारथम् | आह्वयामास बीभत्सुं बाल्यान्मोहाच्च संयुगे
tataḥ pārtha samāsādya pāṇḍavānāṃ mahāratham | āhvayāmāsa bībhatsuṃ bālyān mohācca saṃyuge ||
তারপর পাণ্ডবদের মহারথী পার্থের নিকট এসে, সেই রাজা যুদ্ধক্ষেত্রে শিশুসুলভ চপলতা ও মোহের বশে বিভৎসু (অর্জুন)-কে আহ্বান করল।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that war can be instigated not only by policy or justice but also by childish pride and delusion; ethical restraint and clarity are implied as superior to impulsive provocation.
An unnamed king rides up to Arjuna (Pārtha/Bībhatsu), the foremost warrior among the Pāṇḍavas, and challenges him to fight, motivated by immaturity and confusion in the heat of battle.