Shloka 23
प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः
Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa
धनुष: पततस्तस्य सव्यसाचिकराद् विभो | बभूव सदृशं रूप॑ं शक्रचापस्य भारत,प्रभो! भरतनन्दन! अर्जुनके हाथसे गिरते हुए उस धनुषका रूप इन्द्रधनुषके समान प्रतीत होता था
dhanūṣaḥ patatas tasya savyasācikarād vibho | babhūva sadṛśaṃ rūpaṃ śakracāpasya bhārata prabho bharatanandana ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O mighty one—O Bhārata, lord, delight of the Bharatas—when that bow slipped and fell from the hand of Savyasācin (Arjuna), its appearance seemed like Śakra’s bow, the rainbow.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse primarily uses divine imagery to frame a human moment: even a warrior’s lapse is narrated with cosmic symbolism. It highlights how the epic often interprets events through auspicious/ominous signs and elevates heroic action by linking it to the divine order.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna’s bow slipping from his hand and falling. As it falls, it appears like Indra’s bow (the rainbow), suggesting a striking, portent-like visual that draws attention to the significance of the moment.