Shloka 14
संरक्ष्यमाण: पार्थेन शरीरे सव्यसाचिना । मन्यमान: स्ववीर्य तन््मागध: प्राहिणोच्छरान्,यद्यपि सव्यसाची अर्जुनने जान-बूझकर उसके शरीरकी रक्षा की तथापि वह मगधराज इसे अपना पराक्रम समझने लगा और अर्जुनपर लगातार बाणोंका प्रहार करता रहा
saṁrakṣyamāṇaḥ pārthena śarīre savyasācinā | manyamānaḥ svavīryaṁ tan māgadhaḥ prāhiṇoc charān, yadyapi savyasācī arjunena jāna-būjhkar uske śarīr kī rakṣā kī tathāpi sa magadharāja ise apanā parākrama samajhne lagā aura arjunapar lagātār bāṇoṁ kā prahār kartā rahā |
Though his body was being deliberately protected by Pārtha, the ambidextrous Arjuna, the king of Magadha took it to be the result of his own prowess and kept sending a continuous shower of arrows at Arjuna. The episode highlights how pride can misread another’s restraint and compassion as weakness, thereby escalating conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Restraint and protection offered by a stronger warrior can be misread as weakness; pride (ahaṅkāra) distorts perception and can provoke needless escalation. Ethically, the verse contrasts Arjuna’s controlled conduct with the Magadhan’s self-congratulating aggression.
During the Ashvamedhika events, Arjuna is fighting a Magadhan king. Arjuna deliberately avoids harming him and even protects his body; the Magadhan king, unaware of Arjuna’s intention, assumes his own valor is prevailing and continues to shoot arrows at Arjuna.