Shloka 21
आचार्य-क्षमा, देśa–kāla-नīti, तथा भेद-दोषः
Teacher-Reconciliation, Timing-Policy, and the Fault of Factionalism
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः शड्खमुपाध्मासीद् दारयन्न्रिव पर्वतान् | गुहा गिरीणां च तदा दिश: शैलांस्तथैव च । उत्तरश्नापि संलीनो रथोपस्थ उपाविशत्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तब अर्जुनने इतने जोरसे शंख बजाया मानो वे पर्वतों, पर्वतीय गुफाओं, सम्पूर्ण दिशाओं और बड़ी-बड़ी चट्टानोंको भी विदीर्ण कर डालेंगे। उत्तर इस बार भी रथके भीतरी भागमें छिपकर बैठ गया
vaiśampāyana uvāca tataḥ śaṅkham upādhmāsīd dārayann iva parvatān | guhā girīṇāṃ ca tadā diśaḥ śailāṃs tathaiva ca | uttaraś cāpi saṃlīno rathopasthe upāviśat |
Vaiśampāyana said: “Then Arjuna blew his conch with such force that it seemed as though it would split the mountains, the caves within the hills, the quarters of space, and even the great rocky crags. Uttara too, once again overcome with fear, crouched down and sat hidden in the inner part of the chariot.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts trained valor with unprepared bravado: Arjuna’s confident signal (the conch) embodies readiness and resolve, while Uttara’s hiding shows how fear overtakes those lacking discipline and experience. Ethically, it points to the need for steadiness (dhairya) and proper preparation before entering perilous duties.
As the confrontation intensifies, Arjuna sounds his conch so powerfully that it seems to shake and split the landscape itself. Uttara, frightened again, withdraws and sits concealed inside the chariot, leaving Arjuna to take the lead.