Shloka 58
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
विक्षोभ्याम्भोनिधिं पार्थस्तं नागमिव सो5ग्रहीत् । ततस्तु सर्वपाञज्चाला विद्रवन्ति दिशो दश,और सहसा पंचालनरेशके रथके डंडेपर कूद पड़े। इस प्रकार ट्रुपदके रथपर चढ़कर निर्भीक अर्जुनने जैसे गरुड़ समुद्रको क्षुब्ध करके सर्पको पकड़ लेता है, उसी प्रकार उन्हें अपने काबूमें कर लिया। तब समस्त पांचाल सैनिक (भयभीत हो) दसों दिशाओंमें भागने लगे
vaishampāyana uvāca | vikṣobhyāmbhonidhiṃ pārthas taṃ nāgam iva so 'grahīt | tatas tu sarvapāñcālā vidravanti diśo daśa ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Arjuna, son of Pṛthā, seized him as a serpent is seized after the ocean has been churned into turmoil. Then all the Pāñcālas, struck with fear, fled in all ten directions. The scene underscores Arjuna’s fearless mastery in battle and the sudden collapse of an army’s morale when its leader is overpowered.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how decisive courage and control over the enemy’s leader can end conflict swiftly: when leadership is neutralized, mass violence often collapses into flight. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya prowess directed toward achieving an objective with mastery rather than indiscriminate slaughter.
Arjuna forcefully seizes his opponent (in the Pañcāla context, the king/leader), compared to grasping a serpent after the ocean is violently agitated. Seeing this, the Pañcāla forces panic and scatter in all directions.