Shloka 43
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
त्वरमाणोभिदुद्राव महेन्द्र शम्बरो यथा । महता शरवर्षेण पार्थ: पाउ्चालमावृणोत्,उस समय पाण्डव-दलमें साधुवादके साथ-साथ सिंहनाद हो रहा था। उधर पंचालराज द्रपदने अपने भाई सत्यजित॒को साथ लेकर तीव्र गतिसे अर्जुनपर धावा किया, ठीक उसी तरह जैसे शम्बरासुरने देवराज इन्द्रपर आक्रमण किया था। परंतु कुन्तीनन्दन अर्जुनने बाणोंकी भारी बौछार करके पंचालनरेशको ढक दिया
tvaramāṇo 'bhidudrāva mahendraḥ śambaro yathā | mahatā śaravarṣeṇa pārthaḥ pāñcālam āvṛṇot ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Hastening forward, the king of the Pāñcālas charged at Arjuna, like Śambara once assailed Mahendra (Indra). But Pārtha, the son of Kuntī, covered the Pāñcāla king with a great shower of arrows—meeting force with disciplined prowess rather than panic.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: courage and swift engagement are met by controlled, skillful response. Arjuna’s arrow-shower symbolizes disciplined power—victory pursued through mastery and composure rather than uncontrolled aggression.
Drupada of Pāñcāla rushes to attack Arjuna, compared to Śambara’s assault on Indra. Arjuna counters by unleashing a dense volley of arrows that ‘covers’ Drupada, checking his advance and asserting battlefield superiority.