Shloka 14
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
त॑ भीमरूपं त्वरितं द्रवन्तं दुर्योधन शत्रुसहोडभिषज्भत् । प्रास्फोटयद् योद्धुमना: किरीटी बाणेन विद्धं रुधिरं वमन््तम्
taṁ bhīmarūpaṁ tvaritaṁ dravantaṁ duryodhanaṁ śatru-sahodbhijātam | prāsphoṭayad yoddhu-manāḥ kirīṭī bāṇena viddhaṁ rudhiraṁ vaman tam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Duryodhana, his appearance now fearsome, fled in haste—overpowered by the enemy’s onrush, pierced by an arrow and vomiting blood in defeat. Seeing him thus, the diademed Arjuna, his mind set on battle, struck his arms in challenge and began to roar out a summons to the foe, asserting a warrior’s resolve amid the harsh law of combat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve: even amid brutal realities (wounding, blood, retreat), the warrior ethic emphasizes steadfast courage and readiness to confront aggression rather than yielding to fear.
Duryodhana, struck by an arrow and vomiting blood, retreats in haste. Arjuna, seeing this, claps his arms in challenge and calls out, eager to continue the fight and press the advantage.