Shloka 21
धृतराष्ट्रस्य क्रतु-प्रवर्तनम् तथा पाण्डवानां निमन्त्रण-प्रतिवचनम्
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Sacrifice Commences and the Pandavas’ Reply to the Invitation
तदा सुतुमुलं युद्धमभवल्लोमहर्षणम् । ततस्ते मृदवो5भूवन् गन्धर्वा: शरपीडिता:
tadā sutumulaṃ yuddham abhaval lomaharṣaṇam | tatas te mṛdavo 'bhūvan gandharvāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ ||
Alors s’éleva une bataille d’une violence extrême, qui faisait se hérisser les cheveux. Puis ces Gandharvas, tourmentés par les flèches, s’adoucirent et perdirent leur audace d’autrefois.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the sobering effect of real harm: when the force of conflict becomes immediate (here, the pain of arrows), pride and aggression give way to restraint. It hints at an ethical realism in the epic—violence has palpable consequences that can humble even powerful beings.
Vaiśampāyana describes the battle turning extremely intense and frightening. As the Gandharvas are struck and pained by arrows, their confidence breaks and they become subdued.