Shloka 28
पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्
Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court
ततोअ्र्जुनो भीष्ममपास्य युद्धे विद्ध्वास्य यन्तारमरिष्ट थन्वा । तस्थौ विमुक्तो रथवृन्दमध्या- न्मेघं विदार्येव सहसत्ररश्मि:
tato 'rjuno bhīṣmam apāsya yuddhe viddhvāsya yantāram ariṣṭa-dhanvā | tasthau vimukto ratha-vṛnda-madhyān meghaṃ vidāryeva sahasra-raśmiḥ, dhvajena sarvān abhibhūya śatrūn sa-hema-mālena virājamānaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian Arjuna, dalam pertempuran, menolak Bhīṣma ke tepi dan menewaskan pemandu keretanya; lalu dia berdiri bebas di tengah-tengah gugusan kereta perang—laksana matahari seribu sinar memecah awan. Panjinya yang dihiasi kalungan emas bersinar gemilang; dan dengan keagungan panji itu sendiri, seolah-olah seluruh bala musuh direndahkan. Melihat Kaurava berundur, Arjuna yang bermakota bersukacita, lalu berkata kepada Putera Uttara, anak raja Matsya: “Wahai putera, kini pusingkan kuda kembali. Ternakanmu telah direbut semula dan musuh telah lari; maka pulanglah ke kota dengan selamat dan gembira.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Heroic power is framed as protective duty: Arjuna’s prowess is used to recover stolen cattle and secure safe return, emphasizing kṣatriya-dharma—defending the vulnerable and restoring order rather than pursuing needless slaughter after victory.
Arjuna breaks through the enemy chariot formation, neutralizes Bhīṣma’s immediate support by striking the charioteer, and shines like the sun dispersing clouds. The Kauravas retreat; Arjuna, pleased, instructs Prince Uttara to turn the horses back and return to the city since the cattle are recovered and the enemy has fled.