Shloka 32
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
विससर्ज शरांश्रित्रान् सुवर्णविकृतान् बहून् । नाशयन् शरवर्षाणि भारद्वाजस्य वीर्यवान् | तूर्ण चापविनिर्मुक्तैस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
visasarja śarān śitrān suvarṇa-vikṛtān bahūn |
nāśayan śara-varṣāṇi bhāradvājasya vīryavān |
tūrṇaṃ cāpa-vinirmuktaiḥ tad adbhutam ivābhavat ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: O poderoso guerreiro disparou muitas flechas agudas, trabalhadas e adornadas com ouro. Com as rápidas saraivadas libertadas de seu arco, ia destruindo continuamente as chuvas de flechas enviadas pelo filho de Bhāradvāja (Droṇa). Parecia quase prodigioso—imagem de uma destreza disciplinada na batalha, em que habilidade e firmeza superam até o formidável ataque de um mestre.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined prowess (vīrya guided by steadiness): even overwhelming force can be met by skillful, controlled response. In dharmic terms, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma—courage and competence exercised with alertness rather than panic.
A valiant archer (contextually Arjuna) releases many sharp, gold-adorned arrows and swiftly neutralizes the arrow-barrages of Droṇa (Bhāradvāja’s son). The speed and effectiveness of countering each volley makes the scene appear wondrous.