tan -- them; asyatah -- throwing; sara -- of arrows; vratan -- multitudes; bandhu -- his friend (Lord Krishna); priya -- to please; krit -- acting; arjunah -- Arjuna; gandivi -- the possessor of the bow Gandiva; kalayam asa -- drove them away; simhah -- a lion; kshudra -- insignificant; mrigan -- animals; iva -- as.

Arjuna, wielder of the Gandiva bow, was always eager to please his friend Krishna, and thus he drove back those opponents, who were shooting torrents of arrows at the Lord. He did this just as a lion drives away insignificant animals.