Shloka 27
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अभिवाद्य महाबाहु: सामपूर्वमिदं वच: । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा कौन्तेय: परवीरहा
abhivādya mahābāhuḥ sāmapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ | uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā kaunteyaḥ paravīrahā || vīrau tāv abhisarambdhau saṃnikṛṣṭī mahābhujau | chādayetāṃ śaravrātair anyonyam aparājitau ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Après avoir d’abord présenté ses salutations respectueuses, le fils de Kuntī aux bras puissants—tueur des héros ennemis—prononça ces paroles d’une voix douce et conciliante. Puis les deux héros, tous deux aux grands bras et désormais embrasés de colère, se rapprochèrent et se couvrirent l’un l’autre de volées de flèches, chacun s’efforçant d’ensevelir l’adversaire ; pourtant nul ne montra le moindre signe d’être vaincu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid conflict, the text juxtaposes sāma (conciliation) and ślakṣṇa-vāk (gentle speech) with the surge of krodha (anger) that drives violence. It implicitly warns that courteous intent can be overwhelmed once wrath escalates, underscoring the ethical value of self-restraint and timely de-escalation.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Kaunteya first addresses the situation with respectful salutations and gentle, conciliatory words. Immediately afterward, the two heroes close distance and engage in intense archery, each covering the other with volleys of arrows, with neither gaining a decisive advantage.