Shloka 51
शमीवृक्षस्थायुधप्रकाशनम् / Revelation and Identification of the Weapons on the Śamī Tree
तत एन विचेष्टन्तमकामं भयपीडितम् | रथमारोपयामास पार्थ: प्रहरतां वर:,भरतश्रेष्ठ जनमेजय! प्रहार करनेवालोंमें श्रेष्ठ और कभी परास्त न होनेवाले कुन्तीपुत्र अर्जुनने उपर्युक्त बातें कहकर विराटकुमार उत्तरको दो घड़ीतक भलीभाँति समझाया- बुझाया। तत्पश्चात् युद्धकी कामनासे रहित, भयसे व्याकुल और भागनेके लिये छटपटाते हुए उत्तरको उन्होंने रथपर चढ़ाया
tata enaṁ viceṣṭantam akāmaṁ bhayapīḍitam | ratham āropayāmāsa pārthaḥ praharatāṁ varaḥ, bharataśreṣṭha janamejaya |
Vaiśampāyana said: Then Pārtha (Arjuna), the foremost among warriors, lifted onto the chariot that Uttara—restless and fidgeting to flee, devoid of any desire for battle, and crushed by fear. O Janamejaya, best of the Bharatas, having spoken those words, Arjuna steadied the prince’s wavering mind and compelled him to face his duty rather than be ruled by panic.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Fear is acknowledged but not allowed to govern action: a capable leader steadies the frightened and guides them toward their rightful duty (kṣatriya-dharma), transforming panic into disciplined resolve.
Uttara, terrified and trying to flee, is physically and morally redirected by Arjuna, who makes him mount the chariot—signaling a shift from retreat to facing the impending conflict.