Shloka 14
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
अर्जुनस्तानसम्प्राप्तान् गाण्डीवप्रभवै: शरैः । द्विधा त्रिधा च चिच्छेद ख एव खगमैस्तदा
arjunas tān samprāptān gāṇḍīvaprabhavaiḥ śaraiḥ | dvidhā tridhā ca ciccheda kha eva khagamais tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Lorsque les javelots fondirent, Arjuna, par des flèches décochées du Gāṇḍīva—rapides comme des oiseaux dans le ciel—trança chaque projectile en plein vol, le fendant en deux, voire en trois. La scène met en lumière une maîtrise guerrière disciplinée : à la violence, il oppose une retenue exacte, empêchant le mal sans inutile surenchère sur la terre.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined power: Arjuna’s mastery is shown not as reckless violence but as precise, controlled defense—neutralizing incoming harm efficiently, reflecting kṣatriya-dharma guided by restraint.
As enemy javelins approach, Arjuna shoots swift arrows from the Gāṇḍīva and slices the missiles apart in the sky itself, breaking each into two or three pieces before they can reach their target.