Shloka 17
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
तमापतत्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य बलवत् पाकशासनि: । नाराचमग्निसंकाशं प्राहिणोद् वारणं प्रति,उसे बलपूर्वक आक्रमण करते देख इन्द्रकुमार अर्जुनने उस हाथीके ऊपर एक अग्निके समान तेजस्वी नाराच चलाया
tam āpatattaṃ samprekṣya balavat pākaśāsaniḥ | nārācam agnisaṅkāśaṃ prāhiṇod vāraṇaṃ prati ||
Seeing that mighty elephant charging in full force, Arjuna—the son of Indra, the chastiser of Pāka—shot at it a nārāca arrow, blazing like fire. The scene underscores disciplined martial response: force is met not with rage, but with trained precision in the midst of peril.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya discipline: when confronted by imminent danger, a warrior responds with controlled skill and appropriate force, aiming to neutralize the threat rather than acting from uncontrolled anger.
A powerful elephant charges forward; observing this, Arjuna (identified through Indra’s epithet) releases a blazing nārāca missile directly against the elephant.