Shloka 46
द्रोणपुत्रस्याग्नेयास्त्रप्रयोगः — अर्जुनस्य ब्राह्मास्त्रप्रतिघातः — व्यासोपदेशः
Aśvatthāmā’s Agneyāstra, Arjuna’s Brāhmāstra Counter, and Vyāsa’s Instruction
एष सर्वा चमूं हत्वा मुख्यांश्वैव नरर्षभान् । पौरवांश्व महेष्वासो विक्षिपन्नुत्तमं धनु:,“राजन! ये महाधनुर्धर कुन्तीकुमार अर्जुन हमारी सारी सेनाका संहार और मुख्य-मुख्य कुरुवंशी श्रेष्ठ पुरुषोंका वध करके अपने उत्तम धनुषकी टंकार करते हुए विजयी हो रहे हैं। उधर गाण्डीव धनुषका महान् घोष तथा गरजते हुए मेघके समान पार्थके रथकी घोर घर्घराहट सुनायी दे रही है
sañjaya uvāca |
eṣa sarvāṃ camūṃ hatvā mukhyāṃś caiva nararṣabhān |
pauravāṃś ca maheṣvāso vikṣipann uttamaṃ dhanuḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—राजन्! एष महेष्वासः कुन्तीकुमारोऽर्जुनः सर्वां चमूं हत्वा पौरवेषु च मुख्यान् नरर्षभान् निहत्य, उत्तमं धनुर्विक्षिपन् टङ्कारयन् विजयीवाभ्येति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethical tension in war: extraordinary prowess and victory are narrated with awe, yet they arise from mass slaughter. It reflects the kṣatriya ideal of martial excellence while implicitly reminding the listener (the King) of the grave human cost and the consequences of adharma-driven conflict.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, the great archer, has devastated the Kaurava host and killed leading Paurava heroes, and is now advancing victoriously, twanging his bow in a display of dominance on the battlefield.