Shloka 44
Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra
Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
श्वेत: क्रोधात् प्रजज्वाल हविषा हव्यवाडिव । अपने भाई उत्तरको मारा गया और शल्यको कृतवर्मके साथ रथपर बैठा हुआ देख विराटपुत्र श्वेत क्रोधसे जल उठे, मानो अग्निमें घीकी आहुति पड़ गयी हो ।।
śvetaḥ krodhāt prajajvāla haviṣā havyavāḍ iva | sa visphārya mahācāpaṃ śakracāpōpamaṃ balī ||
三阇耶说道：斯韦多因愤怒而炽然如祭火，仿佛酥油倾注，火势更盛。见兄长乌多罗被杀，又见沙利耶与克利多伐尔曼同坐战车，毗罗吒之子、那位强勇的王子便张开大弓——宛如因陀罗之弓——准备以决绝之力回应死亡。此段以“义怒”承接惨痛之失，却仍置于战士遵守战场法度的克制行动之中。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how intense emotion—especially grief-born anger—can arise naturally, yet a warrior’s dharma channels it into disciplined action rather than uncontrolled violence. The simile of fire fed by ghee suggests anger’s rapid intensification, warning that such energy must be governed by duty and restraint.
Sañjaya describes Śveta, son of King Virāṭa, erupting in fury after seeing his brother Uttara killed and noticing Śalya riding on a chariot with Kṛtavarman. Śveta then draws his great bow, likened to Indra’s, signaling his readiness to engage them in battle.