Shloka 22
द्रौणिप्रतिज्ञा–नारायणास्त्रवर्णनम्
Drauṇi’s Vow and the Description of the Nārāyaṇāstra
सोअन्यत् कार्मुकमादाय रुक्मबद्धं नवं दृढम् । तूणादाकृष्य विमलं भल्लं पीत॑ शितं दृढम्,तब उसने सोनेसे मढ़े हुए दूसरे नवीन एवं सुदृढ़ धनुषको हाथमें लेकर तरकशसे एक चमचमाता हुआ पानीदार, तीखा और मजबूत भल्ल निकाला। उसे धनुषपर रखा और कानतक खींचकर समस्त सोमकोंको भयभीत करते हुए वृषसेनने राजा ट्रुपदको लक्ष्य करके वह भल्ल्ल छोड़ दिया
sa anyat kārmukam ādāya rukmabaddhaṁ navaṁ dṛḍham | tūṇād ākṛṣya vimalaṁ bhallaṁ pītaṁ śitaṁ dṛḍham ||
Sañjaya said: Taking up another bow—new, firm, and bound with gold—he drew from his quiver a spotless, gleaming bhalla-arrow, yellow-hued, sharp, and strong. Setting it on the bow and drawing it back to his ear, Vṛṣasena, striking fear into the Somakas, released that bhalla at King Drupada as his target. The scene underscores the relentless momentum of battle, where martial prowess and intimidation are used to break the enemy’s resolve, even as the ethical weight of aiming at a king and elder ally of the Pāṇḍavas hangs over the act.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, skill and psychological pressure (instilling fear) become instruments of victory; it also implicitly raises ethical tension about directing lethal force toward a king and senior figure, reminding readers that battlefield success often carries moral weight.
Vṛṣasena takes up a new gold-bound bow, draws a sharp bhalla-arrow from his quiver, pulls the bow to full draw, frightens the Somaka troops, and shoots the arrow at King Drupada.