Shloka 28
Duryodhana’s Account of Gandharva Defeat and the Pandavas’ Intervention (दुर्योधनवर्णितो गन्धर्वसंग्रामः)
गतो हाूरण्यादपि शक्रलोकं धनंजय: पश्यत वीर्यमस्य । अस्त्राणि दिव्यानि चतुर्विधानि ज्ञात्वा पुनर्लेकमिमं प्रपन्न:,“देखो, अर्जुनमें कितनी शक्ति है! वे वनसे भी इन्द्रलोकको चले गये और वहाँसे चारों प्रकारके दिव्यास्त्र सीखकर पुन: इस लोकमें लौट आये
vaiśampāyana uvāca | gato ha āraṇyād api śakralokaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ paśyata vīryam asya | astrāṇi divyāni caturvidhāni jñātvā punaḥ lokam imaṃ prapannaḥ ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Lihatlah keperkasaan Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)! Dari rimba itu sendiri dia pergi ke alam Śakra (Indra), dan di sana, setelah menguasai empat golongan senjata ilahi, dia kembali semula ke alam manusia ini.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power (vīrya) and weapon-skill (astra-jñāna) are to be obtained through rightful discipline and authorized instruction, and then used in service of dharma. The verse praises Arjuna not merely for reaching heaven, but for returning to the human world with acquired capability—implying responsibility and restraint in the use of extraordinary force.
Vaiśampāyana points out Arjuna’s exceptional feat: while living in the forest during exile, he journeys to Indra’s realm (Śakraloka), learns the fourfold categories of divine weapons, and then comes back to the earthly world, equipped for the coming challenges.