एवं ता ब्रुवती: कन्या: सहिता: पाण्डुनन्दन: । प्रत्युवाच हसन् पार्थो मेघदुन्दुभिनि:स्वन:,ऐसा कहती हुई उन सब कन्याओंसे पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनने हँसते हुए मेघ और दुन्दुभिके समान गम्भीर वाणीमें कहा
evaṁ tā bruvatīḥ kanyāḥ sahitāḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ | pratyuvāca hasan pārtho meghadundubhiniḥsvanaḥ ||
Tatkala para gadis itu berkata demikian serentak, Arjuna putera Pāṇḍu—sambil tersenyum—menjawab dengan suara yang dalam dan bergema, laksana guruh di awan dan dentum genderang perang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Measured speech and inner composure are marks of dharma: even when addressed by many at once, Arjuna responds without agitation—smiling, yet speaking with dignified gravity.
A group of maidens speak to Arjuna; the narrator notes that Arjuna, identified by his epithets Pāṇḍunandana and Pārtha, answers them with a calm smile and a deep, resonant voice, setting up his forthcoming response.