Shloka 12
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
ततस्तं॑ वारणं क्रुद्ध: शरजालेन पाण्डव: । निवारयामास तदा वेलेव मकरालयम्,क्रोधमें भरे हुए पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुनने अपने बाणसमूहोंद्वारा उस हाथीको उसी तरह रोक दिया, जैसे तटकी भूमि उमड़ते हुए समुद्रको रोक देती है
tatas taṁ vāraṇaṁ kruddhaḥ śarajālena pāṇḍavaḥ | nivārayāmāsa tadā veleva makarālayam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), filled with anger, checked that elephant with a net of arrows—just as the shoreline holds back the sea, the abode of makaras. The image underscores disciplined force: even in wrath, the warrior’s restraint and skill serve the larger order of duty.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power must be governed by restraint and purpose: even when anger arises, the warrior’s action is to contain harm and uphold order (dharma), not to unleash uncontrolled violence.
An enraged elephant charges, and Arjuna (the Pāṇḍava) halts its advance by showering it with a dense ‘net’ of arrows, compared to the shore holding back the surging sea.