Shloka 28
Jayadrathasya śoka-bhaya-vilāpaḥ — Droṇena āśvāsanaṃ ca
Jayadratha’s lament and Droṇa’s reassurance
राजाके एक पुत्र था, जिसका नाम था हरि। वह बलमें भगवान् नारायणके समान था। वह अस्त्रविद्यामें पारंगत, मेधावी, श्रीसम्पन्न तथा युद्धमें इन्द्रके तुल्य पराक्रमी था ।। स शत्रुभि: परिवृतो बहुधा रणमूर्थनि । व्यस्थन् बाणसहस््राणि योधेषु च गजेषु च,वह रणक्षेत्रमें शत्रुओंद्वारा घिर जानेपर शत्रुपक्षेके योद्धाओं और गजारोहियोंपर बारंबार सहस्रों बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगा
rājña ekaḥ putro 'bhūt yasya nāma hariḥ | sa balena bhagavannārāyaṇasamaḥ | sa astravidyāyāṃ pāraṅgataḥ medhāvī śrī-sampannaś ca yuddhe cendratulya-parākramaḥ || sa śatrubhiḥ parivṛto bahudhā raṇamūrdhani | vyasṛjad bāṇa-sahasrāṇi yodheṣu ca gajeṣu ca ||
Vyāsa said: The king had a son named Hari, whose strength was likened to Lord Nārāyaṇa. He was fully accomplished in the science of weapons, keen-minded, endowed with splendor and fortune, and in battle his valor matched Indra’s. When, on the battlefield, he was repeatedly surrounded by enemies, he showered thousands of arrows again and again upon the opposing warriors and upon the elephant-riders—meeting encirclement not with panic but with disciplined martial skill.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: when confronted by danger and encirclement, one should respond with steadiness, trained competence, and courage rather than fear—channeling power through discipline and skill.
Vyāsa describes a king’s son named Hari as exceptionally strong and accomplished in weapon-lore. When enemies surround him on the battlefield, he counters by repeatedly releasing volleys of thousands of arrows at opposing warriors and the elephant corps.