Shloka 20
द्रोण-पार्थ-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Pārtha Strategic Engagement
तथैव गत्वा बीभत्सुर्नाम विश्राव्य चात्मन: । शलभैरिव तां सेनां शरै: शीघ्रमवाकिरत्,उधर अर्जुन उसी प्रकार रथसे दुर्योधनके पास पहुँच गये और उच्चस्वरसे अपना नाम सुनाकर बड़ी शीघ्रतासे कौरवसेनापर टिड्डीदलोंकी भाँति असंख्य बाणोंकी वर्षा करने लगे
tathaiva gatvā bībhatsur nāma viśrāvya cātmanaḥ | śalabhair iva tāṃ senāṃ śaraiḥ śīghram avākirat ||
ครั้นแล้วบีภัตสุ (อรชุน) ก็ไปถึงใกล้ทุรโยธน์ด้วยรถศึก และประกาศนามของตนด้วยเสียงกึกก้อง จากนั้นเขาก็โปรยฝนศรนับไม่ถ้วนลงเหนือกองทัพเการพอย่างรวดเร็ว ดุจฝูงตั๊กแตนเข้าปกคลุม
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed as disciplined, timely action: once concealment is no longer appropriate, Arjuna openly declares his identity and acts decisively to protect the rightful side, showing that ethical conduct in conflict includes clarity, responsibility, and restraint guided by duty rather than impulse.
Arjuna, previously incognito in Virāṭa’s court, approaches Duryodhana and the Kaurava forces, announces his name aloud, and immediately overwhelms the army with a rapid shower of arrows, likened to locust-swarms covering a field.