Shloka 8
Śamī-vṛkṣe śastra-nidhāna and Entry into Virāṭa’s Capital (शमीवृक्षे शस्त्रनिधानम्)
वैशम्पायन उवाच तामादायार्जुनस्तूर्ण द्रौपदीं गजराडिव । सम्प्राप्प नगराध्याशमवतारयदर्जुन:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! तब गजराजके समान पराक्रमी अर्जुनने तुरंत ही द्रौपदीको उठा लिया और नगरके निकट पहुँचकर उन्हें कंधेसे उतारा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tām ādāyārjunas tūrṇaṃ draupadīṃ gajarāḍ iva | samprāpya nagarādhyāśam avatārayad arjunaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai Raja, ketika itu Arjuna, pantas dan perkasa laksana raja gajah, segera mengangkat Draupadī. Setelah sampai di sekitar kota, Arjuna menurunkannya dari bahu—bertindak cepat, cermat, dan dengan tekad melindungi di tengah bahaya.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as immediate protection of the vulnerable: Arjuna responds without delay, using his strength in service of care and safety rather than display.
Arjuna lifts and carries Draupadī swiftly, likened to an elephant-lord in power, and upon reaching near the city he sets her down from his shoulder, indicating they have moved from immediate peril toward relative safety.