Shloka 28
Duryodhana’s Account of Gandharva Defeat and the Pandavas’ Intervention (दुर्योधनवर्णितो गन्धर्वसंग्रामः)
गतो हाूरण्यादपि शक्रलोकं धनंजय: पश्यत वीर्यमस्य । अस्त्राणि दिव्यानि चतुर्विधानि ज्ञात्वा पुनर्लेकमिमं प्रपन्न:,“देखो, अर्जुनमें कितनी शक्ति है! वे वनसे भी इन्द्रलोकको चले गये और वहाँसे चारों प्रकारके दिव्यास्त्र सीखकर पुन: इस लोकमें लौट आये
vaiśampāyana uvāca | gato ha āraṇyād api śakralokaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ paśyata vīryam asya | astrāṇi divyāni caturvidhāni jñātvā punaḥ lokam imaṃ prapannaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Behold the prowess of Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)! From the forest itself he went to Śakra’s world, and there, having mastered the fourfold classes of divine weapons, he returned again to this human realm.” The verse highlights disciplined acquisition of power under rightful authority, and the ethical expectation that extraordinary force be gained through legitimate training and then brought back for the protection of dharma rather than for personal pride.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power (vīrya) and weapon-skill (astra-jñāna) are to be obtained through rightful discipline and authorized instruction, and then used in service of dharma. The verse praises Arjuna not merely for reaching heaven, but for returning to the human world with acquired capability—implying responsibility and restraint in the use of extraordinary force.
Vaiśampāyana points out Arjuna’s exceptional feat: while living in the forest during exile, he journeys to Indra’s realm (Śakraloka), learns the fourfold categories of divine weapons, and then comes back to the earthly world, equipped for the coming challenges.