Shloka 42
अध्याय २६ — शल्यस्य सारथ्य-नियोजनं, कर्णस्य प्रस्थानं, उत्पातदर्शनं च
Chapter 26: Śalya appointed as charioteer; Karṇa’s departure; portents
ताज्जित्वा समरे जिष्णु: संशप्तकगणान् बहून्,उस समय समरांगणमें उन बहुसंख्यक संशप्तकगणोंको परास्त करके विजयी कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन धूमरहित प्रज्वलित अग्निके समान शोभा पा रहे थे
tān jitvā samare jiṣṇuḥ saṁśaptakagaṇān bahūn, tadā samara-aṅgaṇe bahusaṅkhyakān saṁśaptakagaṇān parājitya vijayī kuntīkumāra arjunaḥ dhūmarahita-prajvalita-agnivat śobhāṁ prāpa
Sañjaya said: Having conquered in battle those many bands of the Saṁśaptakas, Arjuna—the victorious son of Kuntī—shone on the battlefield like a smokeless, blazing fire. The image underscores disciplined valor: victory gained through steadfast resolve rather than cruelty, and brilliance that comes from focused duty amid the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic heroism: steadfast effort and disciplined prowess can produce a ‘smokeless’ brilliance—power that is focused and purposeful rather than clouded by confusion or wavering intent.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna has defeated many Saṁśaptaka fighters in the battle and now stands radiant on the field, compared to a blazing fire without smoke—an image of overwhelming, clear, and unstoppable martial energy.