Shloka 28
भीमसेनस्य गदायुद्ध-प्रभावः
The Battlefield Impact of Bhīmasena’s Mace Combat
साड्कुशान् सपताकांश्व तत्र तत्रार्जुनो नृणाम् । निचकर्त शरैरुग्रै रौद्रे वपुरधारयत्,प्रजानाथ! अर्जुनने उस रणक्षेत्रमें अत्यन्त भयंकर रूप धारण किया था। उन्होंने अपने उम्र बाणोंद्वारा योद्धाओंकी ऊपर उठी हुई भुजाओंको, जिनमें गदा, खड््ग, प्रास, तूणीर, धनुष-बाण, अंकुश और ध्वजा-पताका आदि शोभा पा रहे थे, काट गिराया
sa-aṅkuśān sapatākāṁś ca tatra tatra arjuno nṛṇām | nicakarta śarair ugrair raudre vapuḥ adhārayat prajānātha ||
Sañjaya disse: Então, ali mesmo, Arjuna—assumindo uma forma verdadeiramente terrível e irada—decepou com suas flechas ferozes os braços erguidos dos guerreiros, braços adornados com aguilhadas e estandartes e que portavam armas e insígnias. A cena ressalta o terrível ímpeto da batalha: uma vez solta, a proeza marcial derruba até a orgulhosa exibição de poder e posição.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the terrifying force of war: when righteous duty (kṣatriya-dharma) turns into combat, it can manifest as a ‘raudra’ (wrathful) power that destroys the outward signs of strength—raised arms, weapons, banners—reminding the listener that martial glory is fragile and violence has sweeping consequences.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, moving across the battlefield, assumes a fearsome aspect and with fierce arrows cuts down the upraised arms of enemy warriors—arms holding or adorned with weapons and standards such as goads and banners.