Shloka 18
उत्तरो भयविषण्णः — बृहन्नडेन धैर्योपदेशः
Uttara’s Panic and Bṛhannadā’s Stabilizing Counsel
यदा तत् पावको दावमदहत् खाण्डवं महत् | अर्जुनस्य तदानेन संगृहीता हयोत्तमा:,“जिन दिनों अर्जुनकी सहायतासे अग्निदेवने दावानलरूप हो महान् खाण्डववनको जलाया था, उस समय इसीने अर्जुनके श्रेष्ठ घोड़ोंकी बागडोर सँभाली थी
yadā tat pāvako dāvam adahat khāṇḍavaṁ mahat | arjunasya tadānena saṅgṛhītā hayottamāḥ ||
เมื่อครั้งอัคนีเทพแปรเป็นไฟป่าคุกรุ่น เผาผลาญป่าขาณฑวะอันยิ่งใหญ่ ในกาลนั้นเอง บุคคลผู้นี้เป็นผู้กุมและควบคุมบังเหียนม้าชั้นเลิศของอรชุน
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Merit is shown through steadfast service under pressure: controlling the horses in a catastrophic battle-scene symbolizes disciplined support, reliability, and competence—qualities that uphold dharma in action even amid destructive forces.
The narrator recalls the episode of the Khāṇḍava forest being burned by Agni; during that event, the referenced person served Arjuna by managing the team of horses, highlighting his prior role and proven capability.