Shloka 34
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
पदातींश्व रथांश्चैव न्यवधीदर्जुनाग्रज: । गोपाल इव दण्डेन यथा पशुगणान् वने
padātīṁś ca rathāṁś caiva nyavadhīd arjunāgrajaḥ | gopāla iva daṇḍena yathā paśugaṇān vane ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。アルジュナの兄は、歩兵も戦車兵もことごとく斬り伏せ、牛飼いが森で杖一本にて群れを御するように、たやすく彼らを押し返した。この譬えは、戦の苛烈な必然のただ中にあっても、怒りに任せて荒れ狂うのではなく、屈服させ導くために用いられる「規律ある力」を示している。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial action through the ethic of disciplined control: even in violence, the ideal leader acts with steadiness and purpose, like a herdsman guiding and restraining a herd—power as governance rather than mere fury.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna’s elder brother overwhelms opposing forces—both infantry and chariot fighters—subduing them decisively; the comparison to a cowherd with a staff emphasizes ease, authority, and control in the midst of conflict.