Shloka 34
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
एकच्छायमिवाकाशं बाणैक्षक्रे समन््ततः । नादृश्यत तदा द्रोणो नीहारेणेव संवृत:
ekacchāyam ivākāśaṃ bāṇaiś cakre samantataḥ | nādṛśyata tadā droṇo nīhāreṇeva saṃvṛtaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Arjuna emplit le ciel de toutes parts d’une pluie continue de flèches, au point qu’il sembla devenir une seule masse d’ombre. Dans ce voile aveuglant, on ne distinguait plus Droṇa, comme enveloppé de brume—image qui souligne que la maîtrise des armes peut, un instant, éclipser même un maître vénéré, tandis que demeure irrésolue la tension morale entre prouesse et révérence.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the overwhelming power of disciplined skill: concentrated action can transform perception itself (the sky becomes ‘one shadow’), yet it also evokes an ethical tension—martial excellence may obscure even venerable figures, reminding readers to balance prowess with discernment and respect.
Arjuna releases such a dense, all-directional volley of arrows that the sky appears darkened; amid this arrow-veil, Droṇa is no longer visible, compared to someone hidden by fog.