Shloka 9
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
ततो दिशश्वानुदिशो विवृत्य शरै: सुधारैर्निशितै: सुपत्रै: । गाण्डीवघोषेण मनांसि तेषां महाबल: प्रव्यथयाज्चकार
tato diśaś cānudiśo vivṛtya śaraiḥ sudhārair niśitaiḥ supatraiḥ | gāṇḍīvaghoṣeṇa manāṃsi teṣāṃ mahābalaḥ pravyathayāc cakāra ||
Dann bedeckte jener mächtige Krieger, seine Pfeile aussendend—schneidend scharf, spitz zulaufend und wohl befiedert—alle Himmelsrichtungen und Zwischenrichtungen. Mit dem donnernden Klang des Gāṇḍīva-Bogens jagte er den Kaurava-Kämpfern tiefe Furcht und Unruhe ins Herz und erschütterte ihren Mut mitten im Kampfgetümmel.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how prowess in battle is not only physical but also psychological: disciplined skill and a formidable presence can break an opponent’s confidence. In the kṣatriya context, such mastery serves the duty of protecting order (dharma) by decisively subduing aggressors.
A mighty warrior (contextually Arjuna) unleashes a dense spread of sharp, well-feathered arrows that seem to fill every direction. Simultaneously, the terrifying twang of the Gāṇḍīva bow shakes the hearts of the opposing Kaurava fighters, throwing them into distress.