वैशंपायन उवाच
अथ संगम्य सर्वे तु कौरवाणां महारथाः ॥
अर्जुनं सहिता यत्ताः प्रत्ययुध्यन्त भारत ॥
स सायकमयैर् जालैः सर्वतस् तान् महारथान् ॥
प्राच्छादयद् अमेयात्मा नीहार इव पर्वतान् ॥
नदद्भिश् च महानागैर् हेषमाणैश् च वाजिभिः ॥
भेरीशङ्खनिनादैश् च स शब्दस् तुमुलो ऽभवत् ॥
नराश्वकायान् निर्भिद्य लोहानि कवचानि च ॥
पार्थस्य शरजालानि विनिष्पेतुः सहस्रशः ॥
त्वरमाणः शरान् अस्यन् पाण्डवः स बभौ रणे ॥
मध्यंदिनगतो ऽर्चिष्माञ् शरदीव दिवाकरः ॥
उपप्लवन्त वित्रस्ता रथेभ्यो रथिनस् तदा ॥
सादिनश् चाश्वपृष्ठेभ्यो भूमौ चापि पदातयः ॥
शरैः संताड्यमानानां कवचानां महात्मनाम् ॥
ताम्रराजतलोहानां प्रादुरासीन् महास्वनः ॥
छन्नम् आयोधनं सर्वं शरीरैर् गतचेतसाम् ॥
गजाश्वसादिभिस् तत्र शितबाणात्तजीवितैः ॥
रथोपस्थाभिपतितैर् आस्तृता मानवैर् मही ॥
प्रनृत्यद् इव संग्रामे चापहस्तो धनंजयः ॥
श्रुत्वा गाण्डीवनिर्घोषं विस्फूर्जितम् इवाशनेः ॥
त्रस्तानि सर्वभूतानि व्यगच्छन्त महाहवात् ॥
vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca
atha saṃgamya sarve tu kauravāṇāṃ mahārathāḥ ||
arjunaṃ sahitā yattāḥ pratyayudhyanta bhārata ||
sa sāyakamayair jālaiḥ sarvatas tān mahārathān ||
prācchādayad ameyātmā nīhāra iva parvatān ||
nadadbhiś ca mahānāgair heṣamāṇaiś ca vājibhiḥ ||
bherīśaṅkhaninādaiś ca sa śabdas tumulo 'bhavat ||
narāśvakāyān nirbhidya lohāni kavacāni ca ||
pārthasya śarajālāni viniṣpetuḥ sahasraśaḥ ||
tvaramāṇaḥ śarān asyan pāṇḍavaḥ sa babhau raṇe ||
madhyaṃdinagato 'rciṣmāñ śaradīva divākaraḥ ||
upaplavanta vitrastā rathebhyo rathinas tadā ||
sādinaś cāśvapṛṣṭhebhyo bhūmau cāpi padātayaḥ ||
śaraiḥ saṃtāḍyamānānāṃ kavacānāṃ mahātmanām ||
tāmrarājatalohānāṃ prādurāsīn mahāsvanaḥ ||
channam āyodhanaṃ sarvaṃ śarīrair gatacetasām ||
gajāśvasādibhis tatra śitabāṇāttajīvitaiḥ ||
rathopasthābhipatitair āstṛtā mānavair mahī ||
pranṛtyad iva saṃgrāme cāpahasto dhanaṃjayaḥ ||
śrutvā gāṇḍīvanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ ||
trastāni sarvabhūtāni vyagacchanta mahāhavāt ||
Vaishampayana said: 'Then all the great chariot-warriors of the Kauravas, gathering together, joined forces and fought against Arjuna. The immeasurable-souled Partha covered them on all sides with nets of arrows, as mist covers the mountains. From trumpeting elephants, neighing horses, and the sounds of drums and conches arose a terrible din. Thousands of arrows from Partha, piercing the bodies of men and horses, iron and armor alike, flew on beyond. The Pandava, swiftly loosing his arrows, shone in battle like the midday autumn sun. In terror, chariot-warriors fell from their chariots, horsemen from their horses, and foot soldiers to the ground. From the blows of arrows upon the copper, silver, and iron armor of the great-souled warriors arose a mighty clang. The whole field was covered with the bodies of those whose lives had been taken -- elephants, horses, riders, and men. The earth was strewn with men fallen upon the platforms of chariots, and Dhananjaya, bow in hand, seemed to dance in the battle. Hearing the roar of the Gandiva, like the crash of thunder, all beings fled in terror from the great battle.'
8da709b0b2af · published Jul 16, 2026, 6:42:56 PM UTC
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Here Arjuna's dance is not the joy of violence but an image of perfect mastery in action. When duty is carried out without inner distraction, even a terrible battle takes on a strict rhythm.