Shloka 34
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
पदातींश्व रथांश्चैव न्यवधीदर्जुनाग्रज: । गोपाल इव दण्डेन यथा पशुगणान् वने
padātīṁś ca rathāṁś caiva nyavadhīd arjunāgrajaḥ | gopāla iva daṇḍena yathā paśugaṇān vane ||
毗湿摩波耶那说道：阿周那的长兄斩落步卒与车战之士，驱迫其退，如牧牛人持杖在林中驭群畜一般轻易。此喻彰显有纪律的威力——以力量制伏并导引，而非徒然狂怒——在战场严酷的必然之中。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial action through the ethic of disciplined control: even in violence, the ideal leader acts with steadiness and purpose, like a herdsman guiding and restraining a herd—power as governance rather than mere fury.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna’s elder brother overwhelms opposing forces—both infantry and chariot fighters—subduing them decisively; the comparison to a cowherd with a staff emphasizes ease, authority, and control in the midst of conflict.