Shloka 63
शल्यवधे कौरवसेनाभङ्गः, भीमस्य गदायुद्धं, दुर्योधनस्य समाह्वानम्
Rout after Śalya’s fall; Bhīma’s mace engagement; Duryodhana’s rally
पूरयन् रथघोषेण दिश: सर्वा महारथ: । शल्य मारे गये और मद्रराजका प्रिय करनेमें लगे हुए मद्रदेशीय महारथियोंने धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरको पीड़ित कर रखा है; यह सुनकर कुन्तीपुत्र महारथी अर्जुन गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकार करते और रथके गम्भीर घोषसे सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंको परिपूर्ण करते हुए वहाँ आ पहुँचे
sañjaya uvāca | pūrayan rathaghoṣeṇa diśaḥ sarvā mahārathaḥ | śalya māre gate ca madrarājasya priyaṃ kartum udyataiḥ madradeśīyaiḥ mahārathibhiḥ dharmaputraḥ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ pīḍitaḥ | etac chrutvā kuntīputro mahāratho 'rjunaḥ gāṇḍīva-dhanuṣaḥ ṭaṅkāraṃ kurvan rathasya gambhīra-ghoṣeṇa ca samantād diśaḥ paripūrayan tatra upāgamat ||
Sañjaya said: Filling all the quarters with the thunder of his chariot, the great warrior Arjuna arrived there. For when Śalya had fallen, the mighty fighters of Madra—eager to gratify their king—had been pressing hard upon Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira. Hearing of this distress, Kuntī’s son Arjuna, twanging the Gāṇḍīva and making the directions resound with the deep roar of his car, hastened to the spot.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights kshatriya-dharma expressed as protective responsibility: when the righteous leader (Yudhishthira) is oppressed, Arjuna responds swiftly, using his strength not for vanity but to uphold dharma and safeguard his kin and cause.
After Shalya’s fall, Madra warriors intensify their assault on Yudhishthira to please their king. On hearing this, Arjuna rushes to the battlefield scene, announcing his arrival with the twang of the Gandiva and the booming sound of his chariot that fills all directions.