Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 25
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
दिशो<नुभ्रमत: सर्वाः सव्यदक्षिणमस्यतः । सतत दृश्यते युद्धे सायकासनमण्डलम्
diśo 'nubhramataḥ sarvāḥ savyadakṣiṇam asyataḥ | satataṃ dṛśyate yuddhe sāyakāsanamaṇḍalam |
Vaiśampāyana said: As Arjuna wheeled about in every direction and loosed arrows alternately to the left and to the right, the circular sweep of his bow and arrows was continuously visible in the battle—like a whirling firebrand—signaling unwavering mastery and disciplined force amid the chaos of war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined mastery in righteous combat: even amid confusion, a warrior’s trained control, steadiness, and purposeful action embody kṣatriya-dharma—power governed by skill and restraint rather than rage.
Arjuna is maneuvering rapidly in all directions on the battlefield, releasing arrows to both left and right in swift succession, so that the motion of his bow-and-arrow arc appears as a continuous circular ring, like a spinning firebrand.