Shloka 14
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
अर्जुनस्तानसम्प्राप्तान् गाण्डीवप्रभवै: शरैः । द्विधा त्रिधा च चिच्छेद ख एव खगमैस्तदा
arjunas tān samprāptān gāṇḍīvaprabhavaiḥ śaraiḥ | dvidhā tridhā ca ciccheda kha eva khagamais tadā ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Cuando las jabalinas se precipitaron, Arjuna, con flechas soltadas del Gāṇḍīva—veloces como aves por el cielo—cortó cada proyectil en pleno aire, partiéndolo en dos e incluso en tres. La escena subraya una destreza marcial disciplinada: a la fuerza se le responde con contención precisa, impidiendo el daño sin una escalada innecesaria en tierra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined power: Arjuna’s mastery is shown not as reckless violence but as precise, controlled defense—neutralizing incoming harm efficiently, reflecting kṣatriya-dharma guided by restraint.
As enemy javelins approach, Arjuna shoots swift arrows from the Gāṇḍīva and slices the missiles apart in the sky itself, breaking each into two or three pieces before they can reach their target.