Shloka 2
खाण्डवप्रस्थप्रवेशः तथा इन्द्रप्रस्थनिर्माणवर्णनम् | Entry into Khāṇḍavaprastha and Description of Indraprastha’s Founding
येन तद् धनुरादाय लक्ष्यं विद्धं महात्मना । सोर्डर्जुनो जयतां श्रेष्ठी महाबाणधनुर्धर:,जिन महात्मा पुरुषने वह धनुष लेकर लक्ष्यको वेधा था, वे विजयी वीरोंमें श्रेष्ठ तथा महान् धनुष-बाण धारण करनेवाले स्वयं अर्जुन थे
yeṇa tad dhanur ādāya lakṣyaṁ viddhaṁ mahātmanā | so 'rjuno jayatāṁ śreṣṭhī mahābāṇadhanurdharaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Celui-là même qui saisit cet arc et frappa la cible avec la précision d’un grand être n’était autre qu’Arjuna—le plus éminent parmi les vainqueurs, grand archer, porteur d’arc et de flèches redoutables.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Merit is demonstrated through disciplined action: the narrative praises Arjuna as ‘foremost among the victorious’ because he proves his worth by taking up the bow and successfully striking the target, aligning skill and resolve with a kṣatriya’s ideal of excellence.
The narrator identifies the great archer who took the bow and pierced the target: it was Arjuna himself, celebrated here as a supreme bowman and a leading victor among warriors.