Shloka 31
शमीवृक्षस्थायुधप्रकाशनम् / Revelation and Identification of the Weapons on the Śamī Tree
दीर्घा वेणीं विधुन्वान: साधु रक्ते च वाससी । विधूय वेणीं धावन्तमजानन्तो<र्जुनं तदा
dīrghāṃ veṇīṃ vidhunvānaḥ sādhu rakte ca vāsasī | vidhūya veṇīṃ dhāvantam ajānanto 'rjunaṃ tadā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dia mengibas-ngibaskan kepang rambutnya yang panjang, mengenakan pakaian merah yang indah; sambil menghayun kepangnya dia berlari—namun ketika itu mereka tidak mengenalinya sebagai Arjuna.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how external forms—dress and appearance—can conceal true nature and identity; ethical discernment should not rely solely on outward signs, especially in moments that shape destiny.
A figure—actually Arjuna—runs while shaking his long braid and wearing fine red clothes, but the onlookers do not recognize him at that moment, sustaining the suspense of his concealed identity in the Virāṭa episode.