Shloka 29
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
स सायकमयैजलिरर्जुनस्य रथं प्रति । भानुमद्धिः शिलाधौतैर्भानोराच्छादयत् प्रभाम्,उन्होंने अर्जुनके रथपर बाणोंका जाल-सा बिछा दिया। इतना ही नहीं, शानपर चढ़ाकर तेज किये हुए उन तेजस्वी बाणोंद्वारा उन्होंने सूर्यकी प्रभाकों भी आच्छादित कर दिया
sa sāyakamayair jalair arjunasya rathaṃ prati | bhānumadbhir śilādhautair bhānor ācchādayat prabhām ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dia mencurahkan hujan anak panah yang bagaikan jala ke arah kereta Arjuna. Dengan batang-batang panah yang bersinar—diasah pada batu pengasah, tajam dan berkilau—dia menutupi langit begitu rapat sehingga cahaya matahari pun seakan terselubung.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of kṣatriya prowess expressed through direct, open combat: disciplined skill and determination can overwhelm an opponent’s defenses, yet the action remains within the visible, face-to-face ethics of battlefield engagement rather than deceit.
A warrior unleashes such a dense volley of sharpened, gleaming arrows at Arjuna’s chariot that it appears like a net spread over it; the barrage is described as so brilliant and thick that it seems to obscure even the sun’s radiance.