Shloka 131
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
विनेदतुस्तावतिहर्षयुक्तौ गाण्डीवधन्वा च जनार्दनश्न । शत्रुओंको भय देनेवाले किरीटधारी अर्जुनके द्वारा कौरवसेनाके प्रमुख वीरोंको मारे गये देख पाण्डवपक्षके वीरोंको बड़ी प्रसन्नता हुई थी। गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुन तथा भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण मृगोंके यूथोंकों भयभीत करनेवाले सिंहके समान कौरवसेनापतियोंकी सारी सेनाको संत्रस्त करके अत्यन्त हर्षमें भरकर गर्जना करने लगे ।। १३० ह ।। ततो रविं संवृतरश्मिजालं दृष्टवा भृशं शस्त्रपरिक्षताड्ा:
sañjaya uvāca | vinedatuḥ tāvat iharṣayuktau gāṇḍīvadhanvā ca janārdanaś ca | śatrūṇāṃ bhayaṃ dātā kirīṭadhārī arjunaḥ kṛtavān iti dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavapakṣasya vīrāḥ praharṣam agaman | gāṇḍīvadhārī arjunaḥ bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇaś ca mṛgayūthānāṃ bhayakaraḥ siṃha iva kauravasenāpatīnām sarvāṃ senāṃ saṃtrastya paramaharṣeṇa garjatuḥ || 131 || tato raviṃ saṃvṛtarasmijālaṃ dṛṣṭvā bhṛśaṃ śastraparikṣatāṅgaḥ
Sañjaya said: Then Arjuna, bearer of the Gāṇḍīva, and Janārdana (Krishna), filled with exultation, roared aloud. Seeing the foremost warriors of the Kaurava host struck down by Arjuna—the diademed hero who inspires fear in enemies—the champions on the Pāṇḍava side were seized with great joy. Like a lion that terrifies herds of deer, Arjuna and Lord Krishna threw the Kaurava commanders’ entire army into panic and, in the height of triumph, sounded their thunderous cry. Thereafter, seeing the sun with its net of rays veiled, and his body grievously cut by weapons…
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how righteous resolve and capable leadership can transform collective morale: when a just cause is pursued with skill and steadiness, fear shifts to the aggressor and confidence rises among allies. It also underscores the ethical dimension of war in the epic—victory is not merely physical dominance but the sustaining of dharma through disciplined action and unity.
Sanjaya describes Arjuna and Krishna exulting after Arjuna has struck down leading Kaurava fighters. The Pandava side rejoices, while the Kaurava commanders’ forces are thrown into panic. The scene transitions toward the next development with an ominous note: the sun’s rays appear veiled, and a warrior is described as grievously wounded by weapons.