शल्यपर्व — चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः | Śalya Parva, Chapter 24: Disruption of Kaurava Formations and the Elephant Encirclement
शरचापधर: पार्थ: प्रज्वलन्निव भास्कर: । ददाह समरे योधान् कक्षमग्निरिव ज्वलन्,जैसे जलती हुई आग घास-फ़ूसके ढेरको जला देती है, उसी प्रकार सूर्यके समान प्रकाशित होनेवाले धनुष-बाणधारी अर्जुनने समरांगणमें आपके योद्धाओंको दग्ध कर दिया
śaracāpadharaḥ pārthaḥ prajvalann iva bhāskaraḥ | dadāha samare yodhān kakṣam agnir iva jvalan ||
सञ्जय उवाच—शरचापधरः पार्थः प्रज्वलन्निव भास्करः; समरे योधान् ददाह कक्षमग्निरिव ज्वलन्।
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores the kṣatriya ideal in a dharma-yuddha: when duty demands battle, decisive action is portrayed as irresistible and purifying like fire. The imagery also cautions that adharma-aligned forces, however numerous, are vulnerable to the inevitable consequences of righteous resolve.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, armed with bow and arrows, is overwhelming the Kaurava fighters in combat. He is compared to the blazing sun and to fire consuming dry brush, emphasizing the speed and totality of Arjuna’s battlefield destruction.