Shloka 34
Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion
Bṛhannadā/Arjuna
ततो गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्ता निरमित्रं चिकीर्षव: । आगच्छन् पुड्खसंश्लिष्टा: श्वेतवाहनपत्रिण:,तदनन्तर श्वेतवाहन अर्जुनके पंखधारी बाण गाण्डीव धनुषसे छूटकर संसारको शत्रुरहित करनेकी इच्छासे सब ओर आने लगे
tato gāṇḍīva-nirmuktā niramitraṃ cikīrṣavaḥ | āgacchan puṅkha-saṃśliṣṭāḥ śveta-vāhana-patriṇaḥ ||
Dann flogen die aus der Gāṇḍīva gelösten Pfeile—gefiederte Schäfte mit fest gefügter Befiederung—nach allen Seiten davon, als wollten sie die Welt feindlos machen, abgeschossen von Arjuna, dem Lenker des weißen Wagens. Die Erzählung betont den unwiderstehlichen Schwung kriegerischer Kunst, die auf die Beseitigung feindlicher Mächte gerichtet ist.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical frame of kṣatriya action: martial power is portrayed as legitimate when directed toward removing oppressive hostility and restoring safety. The imagery of arrows ‘intent on making (the world) enemyless’ underscores purposeful, duty-bound force rather than violence for its own sake.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s arrows, shot from the Gāṇḍīva, flying forth in great force. The arrows are characterized as feathered and well-made, and Arjuna is identified by the epithet ‘Śveta-vāhana’ (white-charioted), emphasizing his presence and prowess in the battle scene.