Shloka 69
Śālva’s Elephant Assault and the Counterstroke (शाल्वस्य नागारूढाभ्यवहारः)
विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु व्याक्षिपन् गाण्डिवं धनु: । पराक्रमी अर्जुन अपने त्रिलोकविख्यात गाण्डीव धनुषकी टंकार करते हुए रथके द्वारा युद्धके लिये वहाँ आ पहुँचे ।। ६८ ई ।। माद्रीपुत्रो च शकुनिं सात्यकिश्न महाबल:,माद्रीपुत्र नकुल-सहदेव और महाबली सात्यकिने शकुनिपर धावा किया। ये सब लोग हर्ष और उत्साहमें भरकर बड़ी सावधानीके साथ आपकी सेनापर वेगपूर्वक टूट पड़े
viśrutaṃ triṣu lokeṣu vyākṣipan gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuḥ | parākramī arjunaḥ tri-loka-vikhyāta-gāṇḍīva-dhanuṣaḥ ṭaṅkāraṃ kurvan rathena yuddhāya tatra samupāgamat || mādrīputrau nakula-sahadevau ca mahābalaḥ sātyakiś ca śakunim abhidadhāvuḥ | te sarve harṣotsāha-samāviṣṭāḥ sāvadhānena tava senāṃ vegena samabhyapatanta ||
Sañjaya said: Arjuna, famed across the three worlds, brandished the bow Gāṇḍīva and, making its renowned twang resound, arrived there in his chariot ready for battle. Then Mādrī’s sons—Nakula and Sahadeva—together with the mighty Sātyaki, charged at Śakuni. All of them, filled with joy and ardor yet acting with careful alertness, rushed upon your army with great speed.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the heat of war, courage is portrayed as ethically complete only when joined with alertness and restraint—harṣa (excitement) is present, but it is guided by sāvadhāna (careful attention) and purposeful duty.
Arjuna arrives on the battlefield, signaling readiness by the famed twang of Gāṇḍīva. Immediately after, Nakula and Sahadeva, along with Sātyaki, launch a swift assault targeting Śakuni, pressing into the Kaurava forces.