Shloka 38
Arjuna’s Concentrated Archery and the Rout of the Kaurava Mahārathas
Gāṇḍīva-Nirghoṣa Episode
ततो वज्ननिकाशेन फाल्गुन: प्रहसन्निव | त्रयोदशेनेन्द्रसम: कृप॑ वक्षस्यविध्यत
tato vajranikāśena phālgunaḥ prahasann iva | trayodaśenendrasamaḥ kṛpaṃ vakṣasy avidhyat ||
அப்போது இந்திரனுக்கு ஒப்பான பராக்கிரமம் கொண்ட பால்குனன் (அர்ஜுனன்), சிரித்ததுபோல், இடியெனக் கடுமையான பதின்மூன்றாவது அம்பால் க்ருபரை மார்பில் துளைத்தான்।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension within kṣatriya-dharma: in war, even venerable figures may be opposed, and decisive action is taken with unwavering skill. It implicitly raises the ethical complexity of duty—how martial obligation can override personal reverence, while still acknowledging the gravity of striking an elder.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna (Phālguna), appearing almost smiling, releases a thunderbolt-like arrow and with his thirteenth shot pierces Kṛpa in the chest, demonstrating superior archery and battlefield dominance.