Shloka 7
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
तमापतत्तं त्वरितं गजेन्द्रं धनंजय: कुम्भविभागमध्ये । आकर्णपूर्णेन महायसेन बाणेन विव्याध महाजवेन
tam āpatattaṃ tvaritaṃ gajendraṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ kumbha-vibhāga-madhye | ākarṇa-pūrṇena mahāyasena bāṇena vivyādha mahā-javena ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : Voyant l’éléphant souverain se ruer droit sur lui à grande vitesse, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) banda son arc jusqu’à l’oreille et, d’une lourde flèche de fer lancée avec une force prodigieuse, le perça au milieu des tempes. Le geste révèle une violence disciplinée et mesurée—vive et précise—destinée à neutraliser une charge dangereuse plutôt qu’à s’abandonner à la cruauté.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in violent circumstances, dharmic action emphasizes restraint, precision, and necessity: Arjuna responds to an imminent threat with controlled skill, aiming to stop the charge efficiently rather than acting out of rage or cruelty.
A powerful elephant charges rapidly toward Arjuna. Arjuna fully draws his bow and shoots a heavy iron arrow, striking the elephant at the temples (kumbha), halting or disabling the oncoming danger.