Shloka 26
Kṛpa’s Archery Display; Śikhaṇḍin Checked; Suketu Slain; Dhṛṣṭadyumna–Kṛtavarmā Clash (कृपशौर्य–पार्षतहार्दिक्ययुद्धम्)
महामेघं महाघोरें दर्दुरः प्रतिनर्दसि । बाणतोयप्रदं लोके नरपर्जन्यमर्जुनम्
mahāmeghaṃ mahāghoreṃ darduraḥ pratinardasi | bāṇatoyapradaṃ loke naraparjanyam arjunam ||
Sanjaya berkata: “Seperti katak yang menguak membalas awan petir yang besar dan menggerunkan, demikianlah engkau meraung mencabar Arjuna—‘awan hujan manusia’ di dunia—yang mencurahkan hujan anak panah bagaikan air. Gambaran ini menyingkap ketimpangan moral kata-kata angkuh di hadapan keperkasaan yang melampaui: keberanian kosong dalam perang hanyalah penipuan diri apabila berhadapan dengan pahlawan yang benar-benar dahsyat.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse criticizes hollow bravado: loud threats without matching strength are as futile as a frog’s croak against a terrifying storm-cloud. Ethical force in battle is linked to real capability and disciplined action, not mere noise.
Sañjaya describes a warrior’s loud challenge directed at Arjuna. He uses a sharp simile—frog versus thundercloud—to emphasize Arjuna’s overwhelming, arrow-raining power and to belittle the challenger’s confidence.