Mahabharata — Virata Parva, Shloka 37
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अग्निचक्रोपमं घोरं व्यकर्षत् परमायुधम् । व्यशातयच्छरांस्तांस्तु द्रोग: समितिशोभन:
agnicakropamaṃ ghoraṃ vyakarṣat paramāyudham | vyaśātayaccharāṃstāṃstu droṇaḥ samitiśobhanaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Droṇa, esplêndido no tumulto da batalha, puxou até a orelha a sua arma suprema—terrível como uma roda de fogo em brasa—e, com as suas saraivadas, derrubou todas aquelas flechas que cobriam o seu carro. A cena realça a disciplina da arte das armas: mesmo acuado pelos dardos do oponente, o mestre-guerreiro experiente responde com força controlada, não com pânico, convertendo habilidade em proteção e em nova ofensiva.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadiness and trained mastery in the midst of danger: a warrior who is disciplined in his craft responds to threat with measured, effective action. Ethically, it reflects the kṣatriya ideal of courage and competence—power guided by control rather than fear.
Drona sees his chariot covered by Arjuna’s arrows. He draws his formidable bow—described as terrifying like a wheel of fire—and with his own arrows he slices apart the incoming shafts, clearing the attack and reasserting his presence in the fight.