Shloka 8
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
ततोअस्त्रमस्त्रेण निवार्य तेषां गाण्डीवधन्वा कुरुपुड्रवानाम् | सम्मोहन शत्रुसहो <न्यदस्त्रं प्रादुश्षकारैन्द्रिरपारणीयम्
tato 'stram astreṇa nivārya teṣāṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvā kurupuṇḍravānām | sammohaṇaṃ śatru-saho 'nyad astraṃ prāduścakāra aindrir apāraṇīyam ||
Dijo Vaiśaṃpāyana: Entonces Arjuna, portador del Gāṇḍīva e hijo de Indra—capaz de soportar el ímpetu de los enemigos—neutralizó con su propia arma las armas de aquellos guerreros preeminentes entre los Kurus y los Puṇḍras. Y, tras contener su embate, manifestó otro proyectil: el arma ‘Sammohana’ (Delusión), una fuerza irresistible que nadie podía contrarrestar.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined strength: true martial excellence includes the capacity to neutralize violence and subdue opponents through controlled, superior means rather than uncontrolled destruction. Power is ethically framed as restraint and mastery.
Arjuna counters and nullifies the incoming weapons of leading warriors among the Kurus and Puṇḍras using his own weaponry, then deploys the Sammohana (Delusion) Astra—described as impossible to counter—thereby overwhelming the opposing force.