Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 36
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
दृष्टवा तु पार्थस्य रणे शरै: स्वरथमावृतम् । स विस्फार्य धनु: श्रेष्ठ मेघस्तनितनि:स्वनम्
dṛṣṭvā tu pārthasya raṇe śaraiḥ sva-ratham āvṛtam | sa visphārya dhanuḥ śreṣṭhaṃ megha-stanita-niḥsvanam ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Al ver en el campo de batalla su propio carro cubierto por las flechas de Pārtha (Arjuna), Droṇa—espléndido en la lucha—hizo resonar su arco excelente con un sonido hondo como el trueno de las nubes. Tensándolo hasta la oreja, abatió con sus propias andanadas toda la lluvia de flechas de Arjuna, mostrando la maestría disciplinada de un maestro-guerrero en medio de las exigencias de la guerra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined mastery and composure in conflict: even when overwhelmed, a warrior responds with trained skill rather than panic. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between duty in war (kṣatriya-dharma) and the personal bonds of teacher and student that persist even on the battlefield.
In the battle scene, Droṇa sees his chariot covered by Arjuna’s arrows. He powerfully twangs and draws his bow and counters by cutting down Arjuna’s incoming arrows with his own, reasserting control through superior technique.