Shloka 19
Ādi-parva, Adhyāya 187: Drupada’s Inquiry and the Dharma Debate on Draupadī’s Marriage
यत् पार्थिवै रुक्मसुनी थवक्रै: राधेयदुर्योधनशल्यशाल्चै: । तदा भरनुर्वेदपरैर्न॑सिंहै: कृतं न सज्यं महतो$पि यत्नात्,रुक्म, सुनीथ, वक्र, कर्ण, दुर्योधन, शल्य तथा शाल्व आदि धरनुर्वेदके पारंगत विद्वान् पुरुषसिंह राजालोग महान् प्रयत्न करके भी जिस धनुषपर डोरी न चढ़ा सके, उसी धनुषपर विष्णुके समान प्रभावशाली एवं पराक्रमी वीरोंमें श्रेष्ठठाका अभिमान रखनेवाले इन्द्रकुमार अर्जुनने पलक मारते-मारते प्रत्यंचा चढ़ा दी। इसके बाद उन्होंने वे पाँच बाण भी अपने हाथमें ले लिये
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: yat pārthivair Rukmasunīthavakraiḥ Rādheyaduryodhanaśalyaśālvaiḥ | tadā dhanuḥ-veda-parair nṛsiṃhaiḥ kṛtaṃ na sajyaṃ mahato 'pi yatnāt ||
Vaiśampāyana said: That bow which, despite great effort, could not be strung by lion-like kings skilled in the science of archery—Rukma, Sunītha, Vakra, Rādheya (Karna), Duryodhana, Śalya, Śālva, and others—was strung in an instant by Arjuna, the son of Indra, who took pride in being the foremost among heroic warriors and whose might was likened to Viṣṇu. Thereafter, he also took the five arrows into his hand.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights that true excellence is demonstrated through effortless mastery born of discipline and innate capability; it also cautions that pride in prowess is a recurring trait among warriors, often setting the stage for rivalry and ethical tests in the epic.
A formidable bow that many renowned kings and expert archers cannot string even with great effort is strung quickly by Arjuna; after stringing it, he takes up the five arrows, marking his superiority in the contest and advancing the episode’s competitive tension.