And cutting off one of the horns of his bow with it, I caused it to drop on the ground. I then shot at Jamadagni’s car a hundred straight arrows winged with vulturine feathers. Piercing through Rama’s body and borne along by the wind, those arrows coursing through space seemed to vomit blood (from their mouths) and resembled veritable snakes. Covered all over with blood and with blood issuing out of his body. Rama, O king, shone in battle, like the Sumeru mountain with streams of liquid metal rolling down its breast, or like the Asoka tree at the advent of spring, when covered with red bunches of flowers, or, O king, like the Kinsuka tree when clad in its flowery attire! Taking up then another bow, Rama, filled with wrath, showered upon me numerous arrows of excessive sharpness, furnished with golden wings. And those fierce arrows of tremendous impetus, resembling snakes, or fire, or poison, coming at me from all sides, pierced my very vitals and caused me to tremble. Summoning all my coolness I then addressed myself for the encounter, and filled with rage I pierced Rama with a hundred arrows. And afflicted with those hundred blazing shafts resembling either fire, or the sun or looking like snakes of virulent poison, Rama seemed to lose his senses! Filled, O Bharata, with pity (at the sight), I stopped of my own accord and said,--‘Oh, fie on battle! Fie on Kshatriya practices!’ And overwhelmed, O king, with grief, I repeatedly said,--‘Alas, great is the sin committed by me through observance of Kshatriya practices, since I have afflicted with arrows my preceptor who is a Brahmana endued with a virtuous soul!’--After that, O Bharata, I ceased striking Jamadagni’s son any more. At this time, the thousand-rayed luminary, having heated the earth with his rays, proceeded at the close of day to his chambers in the west and the battle also between us ceased.”’”Mbh 5.182.2b · Mahabharata · UDYOGA PARVA
Mbh 5.182.2b
Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Themes in this passage
LeadershipNatureWarAngerSufferingChildrenCompassionDharma
Leadership in other traditions
The same theme, as Christianity, Taoism and Hellenism address it.
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