Shloka 60
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अथ पूर्णायतोत्सूष्टे: शरै: संनतपर्वभि: । व्यदारयेतामन्योन्यं प्राणद्यूते प्रवर्तिते
atha pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭaiḥ śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ | vyadārayetām anyonyaṃ prāṇadyūte pravartite ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : Alors, tandis que se déroulait ce jeu meurtrier où la vie même était mise en gage, les deux guerriers se déchiraient l’un l’autre de flèches tirées d’arcs bandés à pleine allonge—des traits aux jointures noueuses et courbées—chacun s’efforçant de briser l’adversaire dans cette joute sans merci.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames battle as a 'prāṇadyūta'—a wager of life—highlighting the ethical gravity of violence: once such a contest is set in motion, skill and resolve operate within a ruthless economy where life is the stake, underscoring the peril inherent in kṣatriya conflict.
Two opposing warriors are engaged in intense archery combat. With bows drawn to the full and arrows released, they mutually wound and pierce each other, as the fight proceeds like a life-or-death gamble.