Shloka 4
Dvārakā’s Distress and the Saubha Engagement (द्वारकाव्यग्रता तथा सौभयुद्धम्)
तत:ः शतसहस्तरेण शराणां नतपर्वणाम् । दारुकं वाजिनश्लैव रथं च समवाकिरत्,तदनन्तर शाल्वने झुकी हुई गाँठोंवाले लाखों बाणोंका प्रहार करके मेरे सारथि दारुक, घोड़ों तथा रथको आच्छादित कर दिया
tataḥ śata-sahasreṇa śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām | dārukaṃ vājinaś caiva rathaṃ ca samavākirat |
Then, with a hundred thousand arrows whose joints were bent (i.e., barbed and hard to extract), he completely showered and covered Dāruka, the horses, and the chariot. The scene underscores how, in the fury of battle, even the charioteer and steeds—supports of a warrior’s duty—become targets, intensifying the trial of steadiness and righteous conduct amid violence.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of warfare where even non-combat supports (charioteer, horses, chariot) are endangered, testing a warrior’s steadiness and discernment about righteous conduct amid escalating violence.
A combatant unleashes an immense volley—‘a hundred thousand’ barbed arrows—so dense that it blankets Dāruka, the horses, and the chariot, momentarily overwhelming the chariot-team in the battle.