Shloka 8
Śamī-vṛkṣe śastra-nidhāna and Entry into Virāṭa’s Capital (शमीवृक्षे शस्त्रनिधानम्)
वैशम्पायन उवाच तामादायार्जुनस्तूर्ण द्रौपदीं गजराडिव । सम्प्राप्प नगराध्याशमवतारयदर्जुन:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--राजन्! तब गजराजके समान पराक्रमी अर्जुनने तुरंत ही द्रौपदीको उठा लिया और नगरके निकट पहुँचकर उन्हें कंधेसे उतारा
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tām ādāyārjunas tūrṇaṃ draupadīṃ gajarāḍ iva | samprāpya nagarādhyāśam avatārayad arjunaḥ ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच—ततः अर्जुनो गजराज इव पराक्रमी त्वरितं द्रौपदीं समादाय, नगरस्य समीपं सम्प्राप्य स्कन्धात् तां अवतारयामास।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as immediate protection of the vulnerable: Arjuna responds without delay, using his strength in service of care and safety rather than display.
Arjuna lifts and carries Draupadī swiftly, likened to an elephant-lord in power, and upon reaching near the city he sets her down from his shoulder, indicating they have moved from immediate peril toward relative safety.