Shloka 48
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
ततः शरशतै: पार्थ पाज्चाल: शीघ्रमार्दयत् । पार्थस्तु शरवर्षेण छाद्यमानो महारथ:
tataḥ śaraśataiḥ pārtha pāñcālaḥ śīghram ārdayat | pārthas tu śaravarṣeṇa chādyamāno mahārathaḥ pratyancāṃ dhanuṣo jhāḍa-pōñchya mahāvegena śarān mumoca satyajitaḥ dhanuś chittvā sa rājā drupade samāruhat |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian pahlawan Pāñcāla itu segera menekan Arjuna dengan ratusan anak panah. Namun Arjuna, sang maharathi, meski diselubungi hujan panah, menggoncang dan membetulkan tali busurnya lalu melepaskan panah dengan kelajuan besar. Setelah memutuskan busur Satyajit, dia mara ke hadapan dan mendekati Raja Drupada.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness and disciplined skill under pressure: even when overwhelmed by a barrage, a kṣatriya is expected to maintain composure, restore readiness (setting the bowstring), and respond with controlled, effective action rather than panic.
Satyajit of Pāñcāla strikes Arjuna with hundreds of arrows. Arjuna, though covered by the arrow-rain, resets his bowstring, counters with rapid fire, cuts Satyajit’s bow, and then advances to close in on King Drupada.