Shloka 43
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
त्वरमाणोभिदुद्राव महेन्द्र शम्बरो यथा । महता शरवर्षेण पार्थ: पाउ्चालमावृणोत्
tvaramāṇo 'bhidudrāva mahendraḥ śambaro yathā | mahatā śaravarṣeṇa pārthaḥ pāñcālam āvṛṇot ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dengan tergesa-gesa raja Pāñcāla mara menyerang Arjuna, seperti Śambara dahulu menyerbu Mahendra (Indra). Namun Pārtha, putera Kuntī, menutupi raja Pāñcāla itu dengan hujan anak panah yang besar—menjawab serangan dengan ketangkasan yang teratur, bukan dengan panik.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: courage and swift engagement are met by controlled, skillful response. Arjuna’s arrow-shower symbolizes disciplined power—victory pursued through mastery and composure rather than uncontrolled aggression.
Drupada of Pāñcāla rushes to attack Arjuna, compared to Śambara’s assault on Indra. Arjuna counters by unleashing a dense volley of arrows that ‘covers’ Drupada, checking his advance and asserting battlefield superiority.