Shloka 31
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
तथैव दिव्यं गाण्डीवं धनुरादाय पाण्डव: । शत्रुघ्नं वेगवान् हृष्टो भारसाधनमुत्तमम्
tathaiva divyaṃ gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanur ādāya pāṇḍavaḥ | śatrughnaṃ vegavān hṛṣṭo bhārasādhanam uttamam ||
Então, do mesmo modo, o Pāṇḍava (Arjuna), veloz e exultante, tomou o arco divino Gāṇḍīva—arma excelente, capaz de suportar grande tensão e destruidora de inimigos. Com ele, derramou chuvas de flechas esplêndidas, variadas e adornadas de ouro; e, pelas saraivadas lançadas de seu arco, conteve e rompeu rapidamente a chuva de setas de Droṇa. A cena era maravilhosa de ver: destreza disciplinada, dirigida a derrotar o adversário, e não mera fúria.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined strength: even in battle, excellence lies in controlled skill and steadfast purpose—meeting force with mastery rather than uncontrolled fury, reflecting the kṣatriya ideal of duty-bound courage.
Vaiśampāyana describes Arjuna seizing the divine Gāṇḍīva and unleashing rapid volleys of arrows that neutralize Droṇa’s arrow-rain, creating a striking, almost miraculous spectacle of countering weaponry.