Shloka 49
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
जिधघांसन्तं नरव्याप्रमर्जुनं तिग्मतेजसम् | आचार्यमुख्य: समरे द्रोण: शस्त्रभूतां वर: । अर्जुनेन सहाक्रीडच्छरै: संनतपर्वभि:
jighāṃsantaṃ naravyāpram arjunaṃ tigmatejasam | ācāryamukhyaḥ samare droṇaḥ śastrabhūtāṃ varaḥ | arjunena sahākrīḍaccharaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Tandis qu’Arjuna—le premier des hommes, flamboyant d’une ardeur tranchante—brûlait du désir d’abattre son adversaire, Droṇa, maître éminent et le meilleur parmi les porteurs d’armes, l’affronta sur le champ de bataille comme dans un jeu. Avec des flèches aux jointures courbées (subtilement infléchies et visées avec adresse), Droṇa frappait et parait, étalant sa maîtrise sans malveillance—comme si l’affection retenue d’un maître perçait encore au cœur de l’éthique et de l’urgence de la guerre.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in warfare, mastery is shown not only by power but by restraint and discernment. Droṇa’s conduct suggests the ethical tension between duty in battle and the lingering bonds of a teacher’s affection, implying that dharma includes self-control and proportional response.
Arjuna advances with lethal intent, while Droṇa—renowned as the foremost teacher of arms—engages him with expertly aimed, curved (bent-jointed) arrows, countering him as though in a controlled ‘play’ of weapons, indicating both superior technique and a tempered, almost paternal attitude.