Shloka 20
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
समाधत्त सुसंकुद्धः क्षुरप्रं लोमवाहिनम् । तेन चिच्छेद नृपतेर्भीम: कार्मुकमुत्तमम्
saṃdadhat susaṃkuddhaḥ kṣurapraṃ lomavāhinam | tena ciccheda nṛpater bhīmaḥ kārmukam uttamam ||
قال سانجيا: وقد استبدّ الغضب ببهيمة، ركّب سهماً حادّاً كالموسى، سريع الانطلاق، ذو ريش دقيق كالشَّعر. وبه قطع قوس الملك الممتاز—قاصداً أن يكسر بأسَ دُريودhana القتالي ويُعجّل هزيمته في غضبٍ عادلٍ على ساحة الوغى.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, power is ideally directed toward disabling an opponent’s capacity to harm rather than indulging in uncontrolled slaughter; the verse highlights disciplined martial action—severing the bow—to neutralize threat while fulfilling kṣatriya-duty.
Bhīma, furious in battle, sets a razor-headed arrow and uses it to cut Duryodhana’s excellent bow, aiming to weaken him decisively in the fight.