Shloka 39
युधिष्ठिरस्य कृष्णार्जुनादि-समाश्वासनम्
Yudhiṣṭhira’s reassurance and praise of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna, Bhīma, and Sātyaki
ततः शरं महाघोरं सूर्यपावकसंनिभम् । संदधे परवीरघ्नो वीरकेतो रथ॑ं प्रति,तत्पश्चात् शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले आचार्यने सूर्य और अग्निके समान अत्यन्त भयंकर बाणको धनुषपर रखा और उसे वीरकेतुके रथपर चला दिया
tataḥ śaraṃ mahāghoraṃ sūryapāvakasaṃnibham | saṃdadhe paravīraghno vīraketo rathaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu Droṇa, pembunuh para pahlawan musuh, memasang sebuah anak panah yang amat mengerikan, menyala laksana matahari dan api, dan melepaskannya ke arah kereta Vīraketu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war magnifies destructive capability and intent; within the Mahābhārata’s moral horizon, such martial brilliance is repeatedly set against the question of dharma—what is gained or lost when victory is pursued through ever more terrifying means.
Sañjaya narrates that a warrior described as a destroyer of enemy champions sets a fearsome, sun-and-fire-like arrow on his bow and shoots it toward Vīraketu’s chariot, signaling an intensified exchange of deadly missiles.