Shloka 28
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
ततोअ्र्जुनो भीष्ममपास्य युद्धे विद्ध्वास्य यन्तारमरिष्ट थन्वा । तस्थौ विमुक्तो रथवृन्दमध्या- न्मेघं विदार्येव सहसत्ररश्मि:
tato 'rjuno bhīṣmam apāsya yuddhe viddhvāsya yantāram ariṣṭa-dhanvā | tasthau vimukto ratha-vṛnda-madhyān meghaṃ vidāryeva sahasra-raśmiḥ, dhvajena sarvān abhibhūya śatrūn sa-hema-mālena virājamānaḥ |
Waiśampāyana berkata: Lalu Arjuna, sang pemanah tak tertandingi, menyingkirkan Bhīṣma dalam pertempuran dan melukai sais keretanya. Ia berdiri bebas di tengah kerumunan kereta, laksana matahari seribu sinar yang membelah awan. Dengan panji berhias untaian emas, ia menundukkan bala musuh; kemegahan panjinya seakan merendahkan seluruh barisan lawan. Melihat para Kaurava mundur, Arjuna yang bermahkota bersukacita dan berkata kepada Uttara, putra raja Matsya: “Pangeran, kini putar balik kuda-kuda. Ternakmu telah direbut kembali dan musuh telah lari; karena itu pulanglah ke kota dengan selamat dan gembira.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Heroic power is framed as protective duty: Arjuna’s prowess is used to recover stolen cattle and secure safe return, emphasizing kṣatriya-dharma—defending the vulnerable and restoring order rather than pursuing needless slaughter after victory.
Arjuna breaks through the enemy chariot formation, neutralizes Bhīṣma’s immediate support by striking the charioteer, and shines like the sun dispersing clouds. The Kauravas retreat; Arjuna, pleased, instructs Prince Uttara to turn the horses back and return to the city since the cattle are recovered and the enemy has fled.