Shloka 5
Pāṇḍya-vadha-anantaram Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ
Arjuna’s Response and the Renewed Battle
ततोडर्जुन: सर्वतोधारमस्त्र- मवासृजद् वासुदेवेडभिभूते । द्रौणायनिं चाभ्यहनत् पृषत्कै- वैज़ाग्निवैवस्वतदण्डकल्यै:
tato 'rjunaḥ sarvato-dhāram astram avāsṛjad vāsudeve 'bhibhūte | drauṇāyaniṁ cābhyahanat pṛṣatkaiḥ vajrāgni-vaivasvata-daṇḍa-kalyaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then, when Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) had been struck, Arjuna released a weapon whose cutting force spread in every direction. With unfailing, searing arrows—like the thunderbolt, like fire, and like Yama’s staff—he wounded Drauṇāyani (Aśvatthāmā), responding to the injury of his charioteer with swift and terrible martial resolve.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethic of protecting one’s ally and responding decisively to aggression, while also showing how devotion and loyalty (Arjuna toward Kṛṣṇa as charioteer and guide) can intensify resolve in battle. It implicitly raises the ethical tension between righteous protection and the danger of wrath escalating violence.
After Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva) is struck, Arjuna retaliates by releasing a powerful, all-direction weapon and then strikes Drona’s son Aśvatthāmā with deadly, burning arrows likened to Indra’s thunderbolt, fire, and Yama’s punitive staff.