Shloka 20
द्रोण-पार्थ-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Pārtha Strategic Engagement
तथैव गत्वा बीभत्सुर्नाम विश्राव्य चात्मन: । शलभैरिव तां सेनां शरै: शीघ्रमवाकिरत्,उधर अर्जुन उसी प्रकार रथसे दुर्योधनके पास पहुँच गये और उच्चस्वरसे अपना नाम सुनाकर बड़ी शीघ्रतासे कौरवसेनापर टिड्डीदलोंकी भाँति असंख्य बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगे
tathaiva gatvā bībhatsur nāma viśrāvya cātmanaḥ | śalabhair iva tāṃ senāṃ śaraiḥ śīghram avākirat ||
Kemudian Bībhatsu (Arjuna) memacu keretanya mendekati Duryodhana, sambil melaungkan namanya dengan suara lantang. Dengan kepantasan yang dahsyat, dia menaburkan hujan anak panah yang tidak terbilang ke atas bala Kaurava, bagaikan kawanan belalang menutupi mereka—pengisytiharan diri yang disertai tindakan tegas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as disciplined, timely action: once concealment is no longer appropriate, Arjuna openly declares his identity and acts decisively to protect the rightful side, showing that ethical conduct in conflict includes clarity, responsibility, and restraint guided by duty rather than impulse.
Arjuna, previously incognito in Virāṭa’s court, approaches Duryodhana and the Kaurava forces, announces his name aloud, and immediately overwhelms the army with a rapid shower of arrows, likened to locust-swarms covering a field.