Shloka 130
अर्जुनस्य शीघ्रप्रयाणं भीम-शकुनियुद्धं च
Arjuna’s Rapid Advance and the Bhīma–Śakuni Encounter
स तथा क्षिप्रकारी च दृढहस्तश्न॒ पाण्डव: । प्रमोहं परम गत्वा प्रेक्ष्य त॑ द्रोणजं तत:
sa tathā kṣiprakārī ca dṛḍhahastaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ | pramohaṃ paramaṃ gatvā prekṣya taṃ droṇajaṃ tataḥ ||
Wika ni Sañjaya: Nang magkagayon, ang Pāṇḍava—mabilis kumilos at matatag ang kamay—pagtingin niya sa anak ni Droṇa ay nalugmok sa matinding pagkalito. Nadama niyang wari’y napigil ang sarili niyang kagitingan; at, O Hari, sa larangang iyon ng digmaan, maging ang pagtitig lamang sa katawan ni Aśvatthāmā ay naging lubhang mahirap.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a disciplined warrior can be overwhelmed by sudden moral and psychological shock when confronted with an opponent’s terrifying force; the passage highlights how inner steadiness is as crucial as martial skill for sustaining dharma in war.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, normally swift and steady in combat, looks toward Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā and is seized by intense bewilderment, feeling his valor obstructed; Aśvatthāmā’s presence appears so formidable that it is hard to even look at him on the battlefield.