Shloka 49
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
जिधघांसन्तं नरव्याप्रमर्जुनं तिग्मतेजसम् | आचार्यमुख्य: समरे द्रोण: शस्त्रभूतां वर: । अर्जुनेन सहाक्रीडच्छरै: संनतपर्वभि:
jighāṃsantaṃ naravyāpram arjunaṃ tigmatejasam | ācāryamukhyaḥ samare droṇaḥ śastrabhūtāṃ varaḥ | arjunena sahākrīḍaccharaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
Dijo Vaiśampāyana: Cuando Arjuna—el primero de los hombres, ardiente de energía acerada—se consumía con el propósito de dar muerte a su adversario, Droṇa, el maestro preeminente y el mejor entre los portadores de armas, le salió al paso en el combate como si fuese un juego. Con flechas de nudos curvados (sutilmente dobladas y diestramente dirigidas), Droṇa golpeaba y desviaba, mostrando maestría sin malicia—como si en plena urgencia y ética de la guerra asomara la contenida ternura de un maestro hacia su discípulo.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, mastery is shown not only by power but by restraint and discernment. Droṇa’s conduct suggests the ethical tension between duty in battle and the lingering bonds of a teacher’s affection, implying that dharma includes self-control and proportional response.
Arjuna advances with lethal intent, while Droṇa—renowned as the foremost teacher of arms—engages him with expertly aimed, curved (bent-jointed) arrows, countering him as though in a controlled ‘play’ of weapons, indicating both superior technique and a tempered, almost paternal attitude.