Shloka 38
अध्याय ५३ — रणमेघोपमा सेना-वर्णना तथा सुषेण-वधोत्तर प्रतिक्रिया
Battle-as-Storm Imagery and the Aftermath of Suṣeṇa’s Fall
तामापतन्तीं सहसा शस्त्रवृष्टिं सुदारुणाम् । शरैरनेकसाहसैहार्दिक्यो5वारयद् युधि,अपने ऊपर सहसा आती हुई उस भयंकर बाण-वर्षाको युद्धस्थलमें कृतवर्माने कई हजार बाण मारकर रोक दिया
tām āpatantīṁ sahasā śastravṛṣṭiṁ sudāruṇām | śarair anekasāhasair hārdikyo 'vārayad yudhi ||
Sañjaya dit : «Quand cette pluie d’armes, d’une soudaineté et d’une violence extrêmes, s’abattit sur lui, Hārdikya (Kṛtavarmā) l’arrêta sur le champ de bataille en décochant plusieurs milliers de flèches.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield restraint-through-skill: a warrior protects himself (and implicitly his side) by meeting an overwhelming assault with controlled, precise counteraction. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya frame where defense and resistance to aggression are enacted through disciplined martial competence rather than panic.
A sudden and terrifying barrage—described as a 'rain of weapons'—descends in the fight. Kṛtavarmā (called Hārdikya) blocks/halts this onslaught by shooting thousands of arrows, neutralizing the incoming attack in the midst of battle.