Shloka 412
पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara
अस्त्रवर्षेण महता वध्यमानं बल॑ तदा । प्रभग्नं सर्वतस्त्रस्तं विश्वामित्रस्य पश्यत:
astravarṣeṇa mahatā vadhyamānaṃ balaṃ tadā | prabhagnaṃ sarvatas trastaṃ viśvāmitrasya paśyataḥ ||
As a great shower of missiles rained down, that force was being cut down. Then, shattered and terrified on every side, it broke apart—right before Viśvāmitra’s eyes.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how overwhelming force (astravarṣa) can rapidly collapse even a strong host, and how fear spreads when cohesion breaks—suggesting an ethical warning about the destructive, destabilizing consequences of violent escalation.
A Gandharva narrates that a mighty barrage of weapons is striking an army/force, which becomes shattered and panicked on all sides, routing in full view of Viśvāmitra.