Shloka 703
रथादनवरूढस्य तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् । परंतु वे अभी अपने रथसे उतर भी नहीं पाये थे कि अर्जुनने अपने बाणोंद्वारा उनकी ढालके सौ टुकड़े कर दिये, वह एक अद्भुत-सी बात हुई
rathādanavarūḍhasya tadadbhutam ivābhavat |
Sañjaya said: While he had not even mounted his chariot, something astonishing occurred—Arjuna, with his arrows, shattered his shield into a hundred pieces. The scene underscores the ruthless speed and precision of battle, where hesitation or delay becomes a moral and strategic vulnerability amid the demands of kṣatriya warfare.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the dharma of warfare, readiness and discipline are decisive: even a brief lapse can lead to immediate defeat. It also points to Arjuna’s extraordinary mastery, suggesting that prowess and resolve can overwhelm an opponent before he is fully prepared.
Sañjaya reports a startling moment on the battlefield: before the opponent could even mount his chariot, Arjuna’s arrows struck so swiftly that the shield was shattered into a hundred fragments.