Shloka 24
Āraṇyaka-parva, Adhyāya 17 — Śālva’s encampment and the Yādava counter-engagement at Dvārakā
ततो मोहं समापन्ने तनये मम भारत । मुमोच बाणांस्त्वरित: पुनरन्यान् दुरासदान्,भारत! मेरे पुत्रके मूर्च्छित हो जानेपर भी शाल्वने उनपर और भी बहुत-से दुर्धर्ष बाण शीघ्रतापूर्वक छोड़े
tato mohaṃ samāpanne tanaye mama bhārata | mumoca bāṇāṃs tvaritaḥ punar anyān durāsadān ||
Entonces, oh Bhārata, cuando mi hijo cayó en un desmayo, Śālva—sin arredrarse ni siquiera ante aquella indefensión—soltó con presteza aún más flechas, difíciles de resistir. El pasaje subraya el áspero ímpetu de la guerra, donde la agresión puede persistir aun con el adversario incapacitado, insinuando una tensión ética entre la ferocidad marcial y la contención debida al dharma.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical pressure-point in warfare: the capacity for relentless violence even when the opponent is incapacitated. It implicitly invites reflection on kṣatriya-dharma—whether valor should be tempered by restraint and compassion, or driven solely by victory.
Vāyudeva narrates that when his son became unconscious, Śālva did not pause; instead he quickly shot additional, formidable arrows at him, intensifying the assault despite the son’s helpless condition.