Shloka 4
केशवेनैवमुक्तो5थ पाण्डव: परवीरहा । अवातरद् रथात् तूर्ण प्रगृह्ा सशरं धनु:,भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके ऐसा कहनेपर शत्रुवीरोंका संहार करनेवाले पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुन धनुष- बाण हाथमें लेकर तुरंत ही रथसे नीचे उतर गये
keśavenaitam ukto 'tha pāṇḍavaḥ paravīrahā | avatārad rathāt tūrṇaṃ pragṛhya saśaraṃ dhanuḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus addressed by Keśava, the Pāṇḍava—Arjuna, slayer of hostile heroes—quickly descended from the chariot, taking up his bow together with arrows, ready to act in accordance with Kṛṣṇa’s directive amid the grim duties of war.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined responsiveness to righteous guidance: Arjuna, upon Kṛṣṇa’s words, immediately prepares for necessary action. Ethically, it underscores that in a crisis of war, duty is carried out with alertness and restraint under wise counsel rather than impulse.
After Kṛṣṇa (Keśava) speaks, Arjuna—described as a destroyer of enemy champions—swiftly gets down from the chariot, bow in hand with arrows, indicating immediate readiness to proceed with the next step in the unfolding events of the Sauptika Parva.