Shloka 32
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
विससर्ज शरांश्रित्रान् सुवर्णविकृतान् बहून् । नाशयन् शरवर्षाणि भारद्वाजस्य वीर्यवान् | तूर्ण चापविनिर्मुक्तैस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
visasarja śarān śitrān suvarṇa-vikṛtān bahūn |
nāśayan śara-varṣāṇi bhāradvājasya vīryavān |
tūrṇaṃ cāpa-vinirmuktaiḥ tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: El poderoso guerrero soltó muchas flechas agudas, labradas y adornadas con oro. Con las rápidas andanadas liberadas de su arco, iba destruyendo sin cesar las lluvias de flechas enviadas por el hijo de Bhāradvāja (Droṇa). Parecía casi prodigioso: imagen de una destreza disciplinada en combate, donde la pericia y la firmeza vencen incluso el formidable asalto de un maestro.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined prowess (vīrya guided by steadiness): even overwhelming force can be met by skillful, controlled response. In dharmic terms, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma—courage and competence exercised with alertness rather than panic.
A valiant archer (contextually Arjuna) releases many sharp, gold-adorned arrows and swiftly neutralizes the arrow-barrages of Droṇa (Bhāradvāja’s son). The speed and effectiveness of countering each volley makes the scene appear wondrous.