Shloka 3
Adhyāya 55: Pārtha–Rādheya Saṃvāda and Tactical Exchange
Chapter 55
ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सु: कौन्तेय: श्वेतवाहन: । दिव्यमस्त्रं प्रकुर्वाण: प्रत्यायाद् रथसत्तम:,तदनन्तर श्वेत घोड़ोंवाले श्रेष्ठ रथपर आरूढ़ कुन्तीनन्दन अर्जुनने हँसकर दिव्यास्त्र प्रकट करते हुए उस सेनाका सामना किया। जैसे सूर्यदेव अपनी अनन्त किरणोंद्वारा समूची पृथ्वीको आच्छादित कर लेते हैं, उसी प्रकार अर्जुनने गाण्डीव धनुषसे छूटे हुए असंख्य बाणोंद्वारा दसों दिशाओंको ढँक दिया
tataḥ prahasya bībhatsuḥ kaunteyaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ | divyam astraṃ prakurvāṇaḥ pratyāyād rathasattamaḥ ||
Então Bībhatsu (Arjuna), filho de Kuntī, em seu esplêndido carro puxado por cavalos brancos, sorriu e fez surgir uma arma divina, avançando para enfrentar aquele exército.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined heroism: Arjuna’s calm smile and controlled use of a divinely empowered weapon suggest mastery over fear and anger, aligning martial power with responsibility and dharma rather than impulsive violence.
Arjuna, identified by epithets (Bībhatsu, Kaunteya, Śvetavāhana), advances in his chariot to confront the opposing troops, while preparing to deploy a divine astra—signaling the escalation of the battle episode in the Virāṭa narrative.