Shloka 68
अर्जुनागमनम्
Arjuna’s Arrival and Reunion on the Sacred Mountain
ततः शक्ति महाघोरां रुक्मदण्डामयस्मयीम् । तस्मिन्नेवान्तरे धीमान् प्रजहाराथ राक्षस:,तदनन्तर बुद्धिमान् राक्षसने उसी समय स्वर्णमय दण्डसे विभूषित एवं लोहेकी बनी हुई बड़ी भयानक शक्तिका प्रहार किया
tataḥ śaktiṃ mahāghorāṃ rukmadaṇḍām ayasmayīm | tasminn evāntare dhīmān prajahārātha rākṣasaḥ ||
Então o rākṣasa, de mente ágil, aproveitou o instante e arremessou uma terrível arma śakti—com haste adornada de ouro, mas forjada em ferro—golpeando no momento exato. A cena mostra como, em encontros violentos, inteligência e timing podem ser usados para ferir tão prontamente quanto para conter-se, pondo à prova os limites morais do poder e das armas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how intelligence (dhī) and timing can amplify the force of violence; it implicitly warns that skill and presence of mind are ethically neutral and must be governed by dharma, otherwise they become instruments of terror.
In the midst of the encounter, the rākṣasa swiftly takes advantage of the moment and hurls a fearsome iron śakti weapon with a gold-adorned shaft, escalating the combat.