Shloka 25
अध्याय ४ — दुर्योधनस्य असंधि-निश्चयः
Duryodhana’s Refusal of Reconciliation
त्रासयन्तं तथा योधान् धनुर्घोषेण पाण्डवम् । भूय एनमपश्याम सिंहं मृगगणानिव,'जैसे सिंह मृगोंके झुंडको भयभीत कर देता है, उसी प्रकार पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुन अपने धनुषकी टंकारसे तुम्हारे समस्त योद्धाओंको बारंबार भयभीत करते दिखायी दिये हैं
trāsayantaṃ tathā yodhān dhanurghoṣeṇa pāṇḍavam | bhūya enam apaśyāma siṃhaṃ mṛgagaṇān iva ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Immer wieder sahen wir jenen Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), der die Krieger mit dem Donner seines Bogens erschreckte — wie ein Löwe Schrecken in Hirschherden jagt.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in righteous warfare, morale and psychological impact matter: Arjuna’s mere bow-roar becomes a force that breaks the enemy’s confidence. It also reflects the epic’s portrayal of kṣatriya-dharma, where prowess is measured not only by blows struck but by the ability to protect one’s side and unsettle adharma-aligned opposition.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna is repeatedly seen on the battlefield frightening the opposing warriors with the resounding twang of his bow, compared to a lion terrifying a herd of deer—emphasizing Arjuna’s dominance and the panic spreading among the enemy ranks.