Shloka 14
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 54 — Missile-Exchange and Tactical Redirection
Arjuna, Aśvatthāman, Karṇa
नरर्षभास्तेन नरर्षभेण वीरा रणे वीरतरेण भग्ना: । चकम्पिरे वातवशेन काले प्रकम्पितानीव महावनानि
nararṣabhāstena nararṣabheṇa vīrā raṇe vīratareṇa bhagnāḥ | cakampire vātavaśena kāle prakampitānīva mahāvanāni ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Tinamaan sa labanan ng mga palaso ni Dhanañjaya—ang “toro sa mga tao,” ang pinakamatapang sa mga mandirigma—maraming magigiting na kampeon ng hukbong Kaurava, bagama’t hindi pa patay, ay nabasag ang loob at nagsimulang manginig. Nanginig sila na wari’y malalawak na gubat na ang mga punò’y umuuga at nanginginig kapag sa takdang panahon ay dumaraan ang mabagsik na hangin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how true martial excellence—aligned with dharma—can dissolve the morale of a larger force: not merely by physical injury but by breaking cohesion and confidence. The seasonal wind–forest simile suggests that when the proper time arrives, even what seems massive and stable can be made to tremble.
Vaiśampāyana describes the Kaurava warriors being struck by Dhanañjaya’s arrows in battle; many are wounded and ‘broken’ in spirit, trembling and wavering like a great forest shaken by a powerful wind.