Shloka 16
वज्रदत्तेन सह अर्जुनयुद्धम्
Arjuna’s engagement with Vajradatta during the Aśvamedha circuit
ततोअर्जुनस्तूर्णतरं रुक्मपुड्खानजिद्दवागान् | प्रेषयामास संक़ुद्धों भगदत्तात्मजं प्रति
tato 'rjunas tūrṇataraṁ rukmapuṅkhān ajiddavāgān preṣayāmāsa saṁkruddho bhagadattātmajaṁ prati |
Rồi Arjuna, bừng bừng phẫn nộ, lập tức phóng những mũi tên bay thẳng, gắn lông vàng, nhắm vào Vajradatta, con trai của Bhagadatta. Bị các mũi tên ấy đánh trúng dữ dội và trọng thương giữa cuộc giao tranh lớn, Vajradatta—oai quang rực rỡ—ngã từ lưng voi xuống đất; nhưng dẫu vậy, chàng vẫn không bất tỉnh.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the Kṣatriya battlefield ethic: decisive action and martial skill are expected, yet anger (saṁkruddha) is shown as a powerful driver that must be ethically governed. It also praises endurance—Vajradatta, though struck down, does not succumb to fainting—suggesting steadfastness under adversity.
Arjuna, angered, rapidly shoots straight-flying, gold-fletched arrows at Vajradatta (Bhagadatta’s son). The blows wound Vajradatta severely, causing him to fall from his elephant to the ground, but he remains conscious, indicating the fight is not yet concluded.