Shloka 27
अध्याय ५८ — वानरध्वजस्य महेन्द्रास्त्रप्रयोगः
Chapter 58: Arjuna’s Deployment of the Indra-Weapon
अभिवाद्य महाबाहु: सामपूर्वमिदं वच: । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा कौन्तेय: परवीरहा,वीरौ तावभिसंरब्धौ संनिकृष्टी महाभूजौ । छादयेतां शरव्रातैरन्योन्यमपराजितौ दोनों महाबाहु वीर क्रोधमें भरकर निकट आ गये और बाणसमूहोंसे एक-दूसरेको आच्छादित करने लगे। उनमेंसे कोई भी पराजित होनेवाला न था
abhivādya mahābāhuḥ sāmapūrvam idaṃ vacaḥ | uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā kaunteyaḥ paravīrahā || vīrau tāv abhisarambdhau saṃnikṛṣṭī mahābhujau | chādayetāṃ śaravrātair anyonyam aparājitau ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Matapos munang magbigay-galang, ang makapangyarihang anak ni Kuntī—mamumuksa ng mga bayani ng kaaway—ay nagsalita ng mga salitang iyon sa banayad at mapagpayapang tinig. Ngunit pagkaraan, ang dalawang bayani, kapwa malalakas ang bisig at nag-aalab na sa poot, ay naglapit sa isa’t isa at nagpaulan ng mga punglo ng palaso, bawat isa’y nagsisikap na tabunan ang kabila; gayunman, ni isa’y walang palatandaang mapapanaig.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid conflict, the text juxtaposes sāma (conciliation) and ślakṣṇa-vāk (gentle speech) with the surge of krodha (anger) that drives violence. It implicitly warns that courteous intent can be overwhelmed once wrath escalates, underscoring the ethical value of self-restraint and timely de-escalation.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the Kaunteya first addresses the situation with respectful salutations and gentle, conciliatory words. Immediately afterward, the two heroes close distance and engage in intense archery, each covering the other with volleys of arrows, with neither gaining a decisive advantage.