Shloka 14
अर्जुन–उलूपीसंवादः
Arjuna and Ulūpī: Explanation of Śānti and the Maṇipūra Resolution
संरक्ष्यमाण: पार्थेन शरीरे सव्यसाचिना । मन्यमान: स्ववीर्य तन््मागध: प्राहिणोच्छरान्
saṁrakṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena śarīre savyasācinā | manyamānaḥ svavīryaṁ tan māgadhaḥ prāhiṇoc charān, yadyapi savyasācī arjunena jāna-būjhkar uske śarīr kī rakṣā kī tathāpi sa magadharāja ise apanā parākrama samajhne lagā aura arjunapar lagātār bāṇoṁ kā prahār kartā rahā |
Bien que son corps fût délibérément épargné par Pārtha, Arjuna l’ambidextre, le roi de Magadha y vit l’effet de sa propre prouesse et continua de déverser sur Arjuna une pluie ininterrompue de flèches.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Restraint and protection offered by a stronger warrior can be misread as weakness; pride (ahaṅkāra) distorts perception and can provoke needless escalation. Ethically, the verse contrasts Arjuna’s controlled conduct with the Magadhan’s self-congratulating aggression.
During the Ashvamedhika events, Arjuna is fighting a Magadhan king. Arjuna deliberately avoids harming him and even protects his body; the Magadhan king, unaware of Arjuna’s intention, assumes his own valor is prevailing and continues to shoot arrows at Arjuna.