Shloka 48
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
दर्शयन् वीक्षमाणानामस्त्रमुग्रपराक्रम: । इषुभिस्तूर्णमाकाशं बहुभिश्व समावृणोत्,वे भयानक पराक्रमी थे, उन्होंने दर्शकोंको अपना अस्त्र-कौशल दिखाते हुए तुरंत बहुसंख्यक बाणोंद्वारा आकाशको ढँक दिया। यद्यपि प्रचण्ड तेजस्वी नरश्रेष्ठ अर्जुन विपक्षीको मार डालनेकी इच्छा रखते थे, तो भी शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ आचार्यप्रवर द्रोण उस समरभूमिमें झुकी हुई गाँठवाले बाणोंद्वारा प्रहार करके अर्जुनके साथ मानो खेल कर रहे थे (उनमें अर्जुनके प्रति वात्सल्यका भाव उमड़ रहा था)
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
darśayan vīkṣamāṇānām astram ugraparākramaḥ |
iṣubhis tūrṇam ākāśaṃ bahubhiś ca samāvṛṇot ||
ବୈଶମ୍ପାୟନ କହିଲେ—ଭୟଙ୍କର ପରାକ୍ରମୀ ସେଇ ବୀର ଦର୍ଶକମାନଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ନିଜ ଅସ୍ତ୍ରକୌଶଳ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନ କରି, ତୁରନ୍ତ ଅନେକ ବାଣଦ୍ୱାରା ଆକାଶକୁ ଢାଙ୍କିଦେଲେ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that prowess (parākrama) is ethically shaped by intention and control: the same skill that can kill can also be demonstrated with restraint, reminding readers that dharma in warfare depends on purpose, measure, and self-mastery.
A formidable warrior, in full view of spectators, demonstrates his archery by rapidly releasing many arrows, so that the sky appears covered—an image used in the epic to convey overwhelming speed, mastery, and battlefield dominance.