Shloka 1
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत विराटपर्वके अन्तर्गत गोहरणपर्वमें उत्तरयोग्रहके समय यौओके लौटनेसे सम्बन्ध रखनेवाला तिरपनवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ ५३ ॥। (दाक्षिणात्य अधिक पाठका १३ शलोक मिलाकर कुल २६३ श्लोक हैं।) #-+- “5 (9) &:..... +--:..& चतुष्पठ्चाशत्तमोडध्याय: अर्जुनका कर्णपर आक्रमण
vaiśampāyana uvāca | sa śatrusenāṃ tarasā praṇudya gāstā vijityātha dhanurdharāgryaḥ | duryodhanāyābhimukhaṃ prayāto bhūyo raṇaṃ so 'bhicikīrṣamāṇaḥ ||
Sa gayon nagwakas ang ikalimampu’t tatlong kabanata ng bahaging Goharaṇa sa loob ng Virāṭa Parva ng Śrī Mahābhārata, na tumutukoy sa pagbabalik ng mga baka sa panahon ng Uttara-gograha. (Ayon sa dagdag na pagbasa ng tradisyong timog, may 13 śloka na idinagdag, kabuuang 263 śloka.) Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Matapos niyang mabilis na itaboy ang hukbo ng kaaway at mabawi ang mga baka, ang pinakadakila sa mga mamamana ay humarap patungo kay Duryodhana, na nagnanais muling sumabak sa digmaan. Itinatampok ng taludtod ang disiplinadong kagitingan: ang tagumpay ay hindi pahintulot sa kalupitan, kundi tungkuling ayon sa dharma bilang tugon sa pagsalakay, at kahandaang harapin ang pangunahing pasimuno.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial action as duty-oriented: Arjuna first secures the immediate objective (recovering the stolen cattle) and then turns to confront the chief wrongdoer. Valor is shown as disciplined and purposeful—protecting what must be protected and addressing the source of adharma rather than indulging in aimless violence.
After defeating and driving back the opposing forces and reclaiming the cattle taken in the raid, Arjuna advances directly toward Duryodhana, ready to renew combat. This sets the stage for further clashes with leading Kaurava warriors in the Goharaṇa episode of the Virāṭa narrative.