Shloka 356
Draupadī-apaharaṇa-saṃdeśaḥ
Report of Draupadī’s Abduction and the Pāṇḍavas’ Pursuit
रजस्तमो भ्यामाक्रान्ता: फाल्गुनस्य वधैषिण: । इसी प्रकार राक्षसोंसे आविष्टचित्त होकर वे संशप्तक वीर भी रजोगुण और तमोगुणसे आक्रान्त हो अर्जुनको मार डालनेकी इच्छा रखने लगे
rajas-tamobhyām ākrāntāḥ phālgunasya vadhaiṣiṇaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: Overpowered by passion and darkness (rajas and tamas), they became intent on the slaying of Phālguna (Arjuna). Thus, with minds seized by rākṣasa-like fury, those Saṁsaptaka warriors too—overwhelmed by these lower impulses—fixed their will on killing Arjuna.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
When rajas (agitated passion) and tamas (deluding darkness) dominate, intention narrows into destructive fixation; the verse frames violence as arising from inner guṇic imbalance rather than clear-sighted dharma.
The narrator describes a group of warriors (identified in context as the Saṁsaptakas) becoming mentally seized by demonic fury and, driven by rajas and tamas, resolving to kill Arjuna (Phālguna).