Shloka 16
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
ततोअर्जुनस्तूर्णतरं रुक्मपुड्खानजिद्दवागान् | प्रेषयामास संक़ुद्धों भगदत्तात्मजं प्रति,तब कुपित हुए अर्जुनने तुरंत ही सोनेके पंखोंसे युक्त सीधे जानेवाले बाण वज्रदत्तपर चलाये। उन बाणोंसे अत्यन्त आहत और घायल होकर उस महासमरमें महातेजस्वी वज्रदत्त हाथीकी पीठसे पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा; परंतु इतनेपर भी वह बेहोश नहीं हुआ
tato 'rjunas tūrṇataraṁ rukmapuṅkhān ajiddavāgān preṣayāmāsa saṁkruddho bhagadattātmajaṁ prati |
Kemudian Arjuna, menyala oleh amarah, segera melepaskan anak-anak panah yang terbang lurus, bersayap emas, ke arah Vajradatta, putera Bhagadatta. Dipukul hebat dan terluka parah oleh panah-panah itu di tengah pertempuran besar, Vajradatta yang gagah dan bersinar jatuh dari belakang gajahnya ke bumi—namun dia tidak pengsan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Kṣatriya battlefield ethic: decisive action and martial skill are expected, yet anger (saṁkruddha) is shown as a powerful driver that must be ethically governed. It also praises endurance—Vajradatta, though struck down, does not succumb to fainting—suggesting steadfastness under adversity.
Arjuna, angered, rapidly shoots straight-flying, gold-fletched arrows at Vajradatta (Bhagadatta’s son). The blows wound Vajradatta severely, causing him to fall from his elephant to the ground, but he remains conscious, indicating the fight is not yet concluded.