Shloka 7
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
तमापतत्तं त्वरितं गजेन्द्रं धनंजय: कुम्भविभागमध्ये । आकर्णपूर्णेन महायसेन बाणेन विव्याध महाजवेन
tam āpatattaṃ tvaritaṃ gajendraṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ kumbha-vibhāga-madhye | ākarṇa-pūrṇena mahāyasena bāṇena vivyādha mahā-javena ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Seeing the lordly elephant rushing straight at him at great speed, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) drew his bow to the ear and, with a heavy iron arrow driven with tremendous force, pierced the elephant in the middle of its temples. The act shows disciplined, measured violence—swift and precise—used to neutralize a dangerous charge rather than to indulge in cruelty.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in violent circumstances, dharmic action emphasizes restraint, precision, and necessity: Arjuna responds to an imminent threat with controlled skill, aiming to stop the charge efficiently rather than acting out of rage or cruelty.
A powerful elephant charges rapidly toward Arjuna. Arjuna fully draws his bow and shoots a heavy iron arrow, striking the elephant at the temples (kumbha), halting or disabling the oncoming danger.