Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 22
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
अर्जुनके वे बाण जिस प्रकार शत्रुओंके शरीरमें अटकते नहीं थे, उन्हें छेदकर पार निकल जाते थे, उसी प्रकार उनका रथ भी उस समय शत्रु-सेनाओंमें कहीं रुकता नहीं था; उनको चीरता हुआ आगे बढ़ जाता था ।।
arjunake te bāṇā yathā śatrūṇāṃ śarīreṣu na tiṣṭhanti, tān bhittvā pārāṃ gacchanti, tathā tasya ratho ’pi tadā śatru-senāsu kvacid api na rurodha; tāṃś chittvāgre ’bhivavṛdhe. sa tad vikṣobhayām āsa hārātibalam añjasā, ananta-bhogo bhujagaḥ krīḍann iva mahārṇave.
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Just as Arjuna’s arrows would not lodge in the bodies of his foes but, piercing through, would pass beyond, so too his chariot did not halt anywhere amid the enemy ranks; cutting its way through, it surged forward. In that manner he effortlessly threw the mighty host into confusion—like the serpent-king of endless coils, sporting in the great ocean and churning it into turmoil.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power guided by dharma should be decisive yet disciplined: Arjuna’s skill is portrayed as precise and unstoppable, aimed at restoring rightful order in conflict rather than indulging in needless violence.
Arjuna drives his chariot through the enemy formations without being checked, his arrows piercing through opponents; he creates widespread confusion in the hostile ranks, compared to Śeṣa churning the ocean while at play.