Shloka 39
Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana
ततो विस्फार्य बलवदू गाण्डीवं जध्निवान् रिपून् | महता शरवर्षेण तलशब्देन चार्जुन:,यह सुनकर अर्जुनने बड़े जोरसे गाण्डीव धनुषको खींचकर हथेलीके चटचट शब्दके साथ भारी बाण-वर्षा करते हुए शत्रुओंका संहार आरम्भ किया
tato visphārya balavad gāṇḍīvaṃ jaghnivān ripūn | mahatā śaravarṣeṇa talaśabdena cārjunaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Arjuna, powerfully drawing back the Gāṇḍīva, began to strike down the foes—pouring forth a great shower of arrows, accompanied by the sharp clap of his palm. In the moral atmosphere of the war, the verse frames Arjuna’s action as resolute execution of a warrior’s duty: decisive force directed against armed adversaries in the midst of battle, not personal cruelty but disciplined combat.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast performance of one’s role in a justly undertaken battle: Arjuna acts with focused strength and discipline, directing force toward combatant foes as part of kṣatriya-duty rather than out of personal malice.
After hearing the preceding report, Arjuna forcefully draws his bow Gāṇḍīva and begins a fierce counterattack, unleashing a heavy rain of arrows; the ‘talaśabda’ evokes the audible snap/clap accompanying his rapid martial action.