Shloka 21
द्रोण-पार्थ-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Pārtha Strategic Engagement
कीर्यमाणा: शरौघचैस्तु योधास्ते पार्थचोदितै: । नापश्यन्नावृतां भूमिं नान््तरिक्षं च पत्रिभि:,अर्जुनके छोड़े हुए बाणसमूहोंसे आच्छादित होकर वे समस्त सैनिक कुछ देख नहीं पाते थे। पृथ्वी और आकाश भी बाणोंसे ढँक गये थे
kīryamāṇāḥ śaraughaiś ca tu yodhās te pārthacoditaiḥ | nāpaśyann āvṛtāṃ bhūmiṃ nāntarikṣaṃ ca patribhiḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Didorong oleh Arjuna, hujan anak panah turun bertubi-tubi sehingga para pahlawan, ditenggelami arus panah itu, tidak dapat melihat apa-apa. Bumi terselubung, bahkan langit pun tertutup, seolah-olah tersembunyi di balik tirai batang-batang panah berbulu—gambaran keperkasaan perang yang sukar ditahan, menjadikan medan laga suatu peringatan moral tentang daya keganasan yang membutakan apabila dilepaskan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how overwhelming force in war can ‘blind’ all sides—literally obscuring sight and symbolically showing how violence, once unleashed, can eclipse clarity and restraint. It implicitly cautions that martial power, even when skillfully wielded, carries a grave ethical weight.
Arjuna releases such dense volleys of arrows that the opposing warriors cannot see; the ground and the sky appear covered by arrows. The narration emphasizes Arjuna’s dominance and the panic/confusion produced by his barrage.