Shloka 13
प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः
Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa
स तान् ज्यामुखनिर्मुक्तिबहुभि: सुबहून् शरान् । चिच्छेद पाण्डवो राजंस्ते भूमौ न्न्यपतंस्तदा
sa tān jyāmukhanirmuktibahubhiḥ subahūn śarān | ciccheda pāṇḍavo rājan te bhūmau nyapataṃs tadā ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Oh rey, el Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), con muchísimas flechas soltadas de la cuerda de su arco, cortó un gran número de flechas enemigas. Aquellos astiles seccionados cayeron a tierra, hechos pedazos—mostrando el dominio disciplinado con que se contiene la fuerza y se neutraliza el peligro en la batalla.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined power: Arjuna’s skill is not mere aggression but controlled protection—neutralizing incoming harm by precise action, aligning martial prowess with kṣatriya-dharma (the duty to defend and restrain violence through mastery).
In the course of battle, Arjuna releases many arrows from his bowstring and uses them to cut apart numerous opposing arrows mid-flight; the severed pieces fall to the ground.