Shloka 13
प्राग्ज्योतिषे वज्रदत्त-धनंजय-समागमः
Vajradatta Confronts Dhanaṃjaya at Prāgjyotiṣa
स तान् ज्यामुखनिर्मुक्तिबहुभि: सुबहून् शरान् । चिच्छेद पाण्डवो राजंस्ते भूमौ न्न्यपतंस्तदा
sa tān jyāmukhanirmuktibahubhiḥ subahūn śarān | ciccheda pāṇḍavo rājan te bhūmau nyapataṃs tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai raja, sang Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), dengan banyak anak panah yang dilepaskan dari tali busurnya, mematahkan sangat banyak anak panah musuh. Batang-batang yang terkerat itu pun jatuh ke bumi, pecah berderai—menampakkan penguasaan yang berdisiplin, yang menahan kekuatan dan meniadakan bahaya di medan perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined power: Arjuna’s skill is not mere aggression but controlled protection—neutralizing incoming harm by precise action, aligning martial prowess with kṣatriya-dharma (the duty to defend and restrain violence through mastery).
In the course of battle, Arjuna releases many arrows from his bowstring and uses them to cut apart numerous opposing arrows mid-flight; the severed pieces fall to the ground.