Shloka 20
Arjuna Confronted by Saindhava Forces during the Aśvamedha Circuit (श्वेतवाहनस्य सैन्धवसंघर्षः)
तस्मिन् निपतिते नागे वज्रदत्तस्य पाण्डव: । तं॑ न भेतव्यमित्याह ततो भूमिगतं नृपम्,वज्रदत्तके उस हाथीके धराशायी होते ही राजा वज्रदत्त स्वयं भी पृथ्वीपर जा पड़ा। उस समय पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनने उससे कहा--“राजन्! तुम्हें डरना नहीं चाहिये”
tasmin nipatite nāge vajradattasya pāṇḍavaḥ | taṁ na bhetavyam ity āha tato bhūmigataṁ nṛpam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: When Vajradatta’s elephant had fallen, the king Vajradatta himself was thrown down to the ground. At that moment the Pāṇḍava Arjuna addressed him, saying, “O king, you should not be afraid.” The scene underscores the kṣatriya ethic of courage and the victor’s restraint—offering reassurance rather than cruelty to a fallen opponent.
वैशम्पायन उवाच