Shloka 28
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
विस्फार्य सुमहच्चापं हेमपृष्ठं दुरासदम् । भारद्वाजो<थ संक्रुद्ध: फाल्गुनं प्रत्यविध्यत
visphārya sumahac cāpaṃ hemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam | bhāradvājo 'tha saṃkruddhaḥ phālgunaṃ pratyavidhyata ||
वैशम्पायन बोले—भरद्वाज-नन्दन द्रोण अत्यन्त क्रुद्ध हो, सुवर्ण-जटित पृष्ठभाग वाले और दूसरों के लिए दुराराध्य उस महान धनुष को खींचकर फाल्गुन (अर्जुन) को बाणों से बेधने लगे।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger (krodha) intensifies violence: even great skill and sacred martial discipline can become destructive when driven by rage rather than restrained duty (dharma).
Droṇa, described as Bhāradvāja’s son, draws his formidable gold-backed bow and, in anger, shoots at Arjuna (Phālguna), piercing him with arrows—depicting a fierce exchange in the battle episode.