Shloka 3
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
स तेन बाणेन समर्पितेन जाम्बूनदाग्रेण सुसंहितेन । रराज राजन् महनीयकर्मा यथैकपर्वा रुचिरैकशृज्गध:
sa tena bāṇena samarpitena jāmbūnadāgreṇa susaṃhitena | rarāja rājan mahanīyakarmā yathaikaparvā ruciraikaśṛṅgadhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Atteint et portant cette flèche solidement fichée—dont la pointe luisait comme de l’or affiné—Arjuna, dont les actes étaient dignes d’éloge, resplendit davantage, ô roi, tel une belle montagne à sommet unique, embellie par un seul bambou qui s’y dresse.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya steadfastness: a noble warrior’s dignity is not diminished by injury; rather, endurance and composure under attack can become an emblem of honor and admired conduct.
An arrow with a golden-looking point has struck and remained lodged in Arjuna’s forehead. Instead of depicting him as weakened, the poet describes him as shining—using a simile of a single-peaked mountain beautified by a lone bamboo—to emphasize his heroic presence even while wounded.