Shloka 1
ऑपन--माज छा अल षड्विशर्त्याधिकद्विशततमो< ध्याय: देवताओं आदिके साथ श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनका युद्ध वैशम्पायन उवाच तस्याथ वर्षतो वारि पाण्डव: प्रत्यवारयत् । शरवर्षेण बीभत्सुरुत्तमास्त्राणि दर्शयन्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! वर्षा करते हुए इन्द्रकी उस जलधाराको पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुनने अपने उत्तम अस्त्रका प्रदर्शन करते हुए बाणोंकी बौछारसे रोक दिया
Vaiśampāyana uvāca | tasyātha varṣato vāri pāṇḍavaḥ pratyavārayat | śaravarṣeṇa bībhatsur uttamāstrāṇi darśayan ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then, as that torrent of rain was being poured down, the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) checked it—Bībhatsu countering the downpour with a shower of arrows, while displaying the excellence of his supreme weapons. The episode frames martial skill as disciplined mastery: power is met not with panic or excess, but with controlled, purposeful response.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength is portrayed as disciplined mastery: Arjuna does not merely endure the divine downpour but counters it with controlled skill, suggesting that rightful power (kṣatriya prowess) should be guided by steadiness and purposeful restraint rather than uncontrolled aggression.
A divine rain-torrent (attributed in the accompanying prose to Indra) is released, and Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava, called Bībhatsu) blocks it by unleashing a dense shower of arrows, thereby demonstrating his superior astras (weapon-missiles).