Shloka 3
विराटसभायां पाण्डवानां प्रवेशः — Arjuna’s Encomium of Yudhiṣṭhira in Virāṭa’s Court
स तेन बाणेन समर्पितेन जाम्बूनदाग्रेण सुसंहितेन । रराज राजन् महनीयकर्मा यथैकपर्वा रुचिरैकशृज्गध:,वह बाण अर्जुनके ललाटमें धँस गया। राजन्! प्रशंसनीय पराक्रमवाले अर्जुन सुनहरी धारवाले उस धँसे हुए बाणके द्वारा उसी प्रकार सुशोभित हुए, जैसे एक सुन्दर शिखरवाला पर्वत अपने ऊपर उगे हुए एक ही बाँसके पेड़से शोभा पा रहा हो
sa tena bāṇena samarpitena jāmbūnadāgreṇa susaṃhitena | rarāja rājan mahanīyakarmā yathaikaparvā ruciraikaśṛṅgadhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Raja, ditembusi dan tertancap kukuh oleh anak panah itu—bermata berkilau laksana emas murni—Arjuna, yang perbuatannya layak dipuji, tampak semakin bersinar; bagaikan gunung indah berpuncak tunggal yang diseri oleh sebatang buluh yang tumbuh di atasnya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya steadfastness: a noble warrior’s dignity is not diminished by injury; rather, endurance and composure under attack can become an emblem of honor and admired conduct.
An arrow with a golden-looking point has struck and remained lodged in Arjuna’s forehead. Instead of depicting him as weakened, the poet describes him as shining—using a simile of a single-peaked mountain beautified by a lone bamboo—to emphasize his heroic presence even while wounded.