Shloka 24
Chapter 30: Formation Disruption, Competing War-Cries, and Nīla’s Fall
Droṇa-parva
तत् तमो भैरवं घोरं भयकर्त महाहवे । उत्तमास्त्रेण महता ज्यौतिषेणार्जुनोडवधीत्,उस महासमरमें प्रकट हुए उस भयदायक घोर एवं भयानक अंधकारको अर्जुनने अपने विशाल उत्तम ज्योतिर्मय अस्त्रद्वारा नष्ट कर दिया
tat tamo bhairavaṁ ghoraṁ bhayakṛt mahāhave | uttamāstreṇa mahatā jyautiṣeṇārjuno ’vadhīt ||
Sañjaya said: In that great battle, a dreadful, terrifying darkness arose, striking fear into all. Arjuna dispelled and destroyed that gloom by deploying his mighty, supreme, radiant (light-producing) weapon—restoring clarity and courage amid the chaos of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid overwhelming fear and confusion (symbolized by darkness), steadfast skill guided by dharma can restore clarity. The episode frames ‘light’ as discernment and morale in war: when panic spreads, the righteous warrior acts decisively to remove the cause of terror.
A terrifying darkness manifests on the battlefield, creating fear among combatants. Arjuna counters it by releasing a powerful radiant weapon (a light-producing astra), which destroys the darkness and re-establishes visibility and order in the fight.