Shloka 9
Kuru-Sainika-Āśvāsana and Vijayaghoṣaṇa
Reassuring the Kuru Soldiers; Proclaiming Victory
रथोपस्थाभिपतितैरास्तृता मानवैर्मही । प्रनृत्यतीव संग्रामे चापहस्तो धनंजय:
rathopasthābhipatitair āstṛtā mānavair mahī | pranṛtyatīva saṅgrāme cāpahasto dhanañjayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Die Erde war bedeckt mit Männern, die von den Sitzen der Wagen gestürzt waren. In jener Schlacht schien Dhanañjaya — den Bogen in der Hand — gleichsam über das Feld zu tanzen, so schnell und unablässig traf er.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the paradox of righteous warfare: a warrior’s trained excellence can appear graceful and effortless, yet it unfolds amid severe human loss. It implicitly urges awareness of war’s moral weight even when one acts within kṣatriya duty.
The battlefield becomes covered with fallen men, especially those thrown from chariots. Arjuna (Dhanañjaya), holding his bow, moves so swiftly in combat that he appears to be ‘dancing’ as he overwhelms opponents.