Shloka 13
प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः
Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa
स तान् ज्यामुखनिर्मुक्तिबहुभि: सुबहून् शरान् । चिच्छेद पाण्डवो राजंस्ते भूमौ न्न्यपतंस्तदा
sa tān jyāmukhanirmuktibahubhiḥ subahūn śarān | ciccheda pāṇḍavo rājan te bhūmau nyapataṃs tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ô roi, le Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), par une multitude de flèches décochées de la corde de son arc, trancha un très grand nombre de traits ennemis. Ces hampes sectionnées tombèrent à terre, brisées en morceaux—manifestant une maîtrise disciplinée par laquelle la force est contenue et le péril neutralisé au combat.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined power: Arjuna’s skill is not mere aggression but controlled protection—neutralizing incoming harm by precise action, aligning martial prowess with kṣatriya-dharma (the duty to defend and restrain violence through mastery).
In the course of battle, Arjuna releases many arrows from his bowstring and uses them to cut apart numerous opposing arrows mid-flight; the severed pieces fall to the ground.