Shloka 21
Kṛṣṇa-vīrya-kathana
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s appraisal of Vāsudeva’s deeds
इषुसम्बाधमाकाशं कुर्वन् कपिवरध्वज: । यदा55यात् कथमासीत् तु तदा पार्थ समीक्षताम्,वानरके चिह्नसे युक्त श्रेष्ठ ध्वजावाले अर्जुन जब आकाशको अपने बाणोंसे ठसाठस भरते हुए तुमलोगोंपर चढ़ आये थे, उस समय उन्हें देखकर तुम्हारे मनकी कैसी दशा हुई थी?
iṣu-sambādham ākāśaṁ kurvan kapivara-dhvajaḥ | yadā yāt katham āsīt tu tadā pārtha samīkṣatām ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Pārtha (Arjuna), ketika pahlawan yang membawa panji bertanda kera termulia (Hanumān) mara, hingga langit menjadi padat oleh anak panah, apakah keadaan fikiranmu ketika itu, tatkala engkau memandangnya?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and psychological dimension of kṣatriya-dharma: even amid overwhelming violence (the sky ‘choked’ with arrows), a warrior is examined not only by deeds but by inner steadiness—fear, resolve, and discernment when confronted with terrifying force.
Vaiśampāyana, narrating the events of the war, addresses Arjuna (Pārtha) and asks about his mental state at the moment an opponent advanced while filling the sky with arrows. The description emphasizes the intensity of the assault and frames Arjuna’s response as something worth reflecting upon.