Shloka 58
(पार्थोडपि समरे राजन् दुःशासनमताडयत् | ताडिते बहुधा पुत्रे पार्थबाणैरजिद्दागै: ।। बभूव व्यथिता सेना दृष्ट्वा पार्थपराक्रमम् | पुनश्न ताडिता तेन पार्थेनामिततेजसा ।।) राजन! अर्जुनने भी समरमें दुःशासनको अपने बाणोंसे बहुत घायल किया। सीधे जानेवाले अर्जुनके बाणोंसे आपके पुत्रके बार-बार घायल होनेपर पार्थके उस पराक्रमको देखकर आपकी सारी सेना व्यथित हो उठी। अमित तेजस्वी अर्जुनने उसे बारंबार पीड़ित किया। सा वध्यमाना समरे पुत्रस्य तव वाहिनी । लोड्यते रथिभ्रि: श्रेष्ठैस्तत्र तत्रैव भारत,भरतनन्दन! उस संग्राममें आपके पुत्रकी सारी सेनाको जहाँ-तहाँ श्रेष्ठ रथियोंने बाणोंसे विद्ध करके मथ डाला था
sañjaya uvāca | pārtho 'pi samare rājan duḥśāsanam atāḍayat | tāḍite bahudhā putre pārtha-bāṇair ajiddhagaiḥ || babhūva vyathitā senā dṛṣṭvā pārtha-parākramam | punaś ca tāḍitā tena pārthenāmitatejasā || sa vadhyamānā samare putrasya tava vāhinī | loḍyate rathibhiḥ śreṣṭhais tatra tatraiva bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: “O King, Arjuna too, in the battle, struck Duḥśāsana, grievously wounding him with his straight-flying arrows. As your son was pierced again and again by Arjuna’s shafts, the whole army grew distressed on witnessing Pārtha’s prowess. That immeasurably radiant Arjuna kept tormenting him repeatedly. And as your son’s host was being cut down in the fight, O Bhārata, it was battered and scattered here and there by the foremost chariot-warriors.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how righteous resolve and superior skill can break an unjust force not only physically but psychologically: morale collapses when adharma-driven power meets disciplined valor. It also reflects the kṣatriya ethic of steadfastness in battle and the real consequences of prior wrongdoing returning as vulnerability on the field.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna repeatedly pierces Duḥśāsana with swift, straight arrows. Seeing Arjuna’s prowess, the Kaurava army becomes shaken and disordered, being battered and scattered by leading chariot-warriors across the battlefield.