Shloka 8
Pāṇḍya-vadha-anantaram Arjunasya Pravṛttiḥ
Arjuna’s Response and the Renewed Battle
धनूंषि बाणानिषुधीर्धनुर्ज्या: पाणीन् भुजान् पाणिगतं च शस्त्रम् छत्राणि केतूंस्तुरगान् रथेषां वस्त्राणि माल्यान्यथ भूषणानि
sañjaya uvāca |
dhanūṃṣi bāṇāni ṣudhīr dhanurjyāḥ pāṇīn bhujān pāṇigataṃ ca śastram |
chatrāṇi ketūṃs turagān ratheṣāṃ vastrāṇi mālyāny atha bhūṣaṇāni ||
Sañjaya berkata: Arjuna, putera Kuntī, dengan anak panah yang dilepaskan seindah-indahnya, memotong dalam pertempuran—tanpa membelakangi musuh yang berdiri berhadapan—busur, anak panah, tabung panah dan tali busur mereka; tangan dan lengan mereka, serta senjata yang digenggam; payung kebesaran dan panji; kuda-kuda dan kelengkapan kereta; juga pakaian, kalungan bunga dan perhiasan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya battlefield ethic of confronting enemies who stand and face one another, while emphasizing disciplined martial excellence: Arjuna’s skill is portrayed as precise and overwhelming, yet situated within the code of open combat rather than cowardly retreat or hidden attack.
Sanjaya describes Arjuna’s arrows severing the enemy’s weapons and war-gear—bows, arrows, quivers, bowstrings, limbs holding weapons, and also royal insignia like parasols and banners, along with horses, chariot fittings, clothing, garlands, and ornaments—showing the scale of destruction Arjuna inflicts on opponents who remain facing him.