Shloka 24
वैशम्पायन उवाच एतावदुकक््त्वा प्रययुर्हि शीघ्र तान्येव वर्त्मान्यनुवर्तमाना: । मुहुर्मुहुर्व्यालवदुच्छवसन्तो ज्यां विक्षिपन्तश्न महाधनुर्भ्य:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-जनमेजय! ऐसा कहकर समस्त पाण्डव अपने विशाल धनुषकी डोरी खींचते और बार-बार सर्पोंके समान फुफकारते हुए उन्हीं मार्गोपर चलते हुए बड़े वेगसे आगे बढ़े
vaiśampāyana uvāca: etāvad uktvā prayayur hi śīghraṁ tāny eva vartmāny anuvartamānāḥ | muhur muhur vyāla-vad ucchvasanto jyāṁ vikṣipantaś ca mahā-dhanurbhyaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having said only this much, they set out at once with speed, keeping to those very paths. Again and again they breathed hard like serpents, and from their great bows they repeatedly snapped and cast the bowstrings—pressing forward with urgency and readiness, as if to meet danger without delay.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined urgency: after deciding a course, one should act promptly, stay on the chosen path, and maintain preparedness in the face of danger—courage expressed through controlled, purposeful action.
After speaking briefly, the Pāṇḍavas move forward rapidly along the same routes, repeatedly breathing hard like serpents and snapping their bowstrings from their great bows—signaling alertness and readiness for imminent confrontation.