Shloka 43
अध्याय ८० — मध्यंदिन-रणवृत्तान्तः
Yudhiṣṭhira–Śrutāyu encounter; Cekitāna–Gautama clash; Abhimanyu pressure; Arjuna’s redeployment
शरैरवर्षन् ट्रुपदस्य पुत्र यथाम्बुदा भूधरं वारिजालै: । निहत्य तांश्चापि शरै: सुतीक्षणै- न विव्यथे समरे चित्रयोधी,जैसे मेघ पर्वतपर जलकी बूँदें बरसाते हैं, उसी प्रकार वे द्रुपदपुत्रपर बाणोंकी वृष्टि करने लगे। परंतु विचित्र युद्ध करनेवाले धृष्टद्युम्न उस समरांगणमें अपने पैने बाणोंद्वारा उन सबको अत्यन्त घायल करके स्वयं तनिक भी व्यथित नहीं हुए
sañjaya uvāca | śarair avarṣan drupadasya putraṃ yathāmbudā bhūdharaṃ vārījālaiḥ | nihatya tāṃś cāpi śaraiḥ sutīkṣṇair na vivyathe samare citrayodhī ||
Sañjaya said: They showered Drupada’s son with arrows, as rain-clouds drench a mountain with torrents of water. Yet that master of varied combat, Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna, striking them in return with razor-sharp shafts and grievously wounding them, did not falter or feel distress in the battle—showing the hard, relentless poise demanded by the ethics of the warrior’s duty amid the violence of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ideal of steadiness under assault: even when overwhelmed like a mountain under cloudburst, a kṣatriya is expected to maintain composure, respond with skill, and not succumb to fear or agitation while performing one’s battle-duty.
Opposing fighters unleash a heavy volley of arrows at Dhr̥ṣṭadyumna, compared to clouds pouring rain on a mountain. He counters with sharp arrows, grievously wounding them, and remains unshaken on the battlefield.