Shloka 12
Kṛṣṇopadeśa and Duryodhana’s Challenge
Droṇa-parva, Adhyāya 77
गाण्डीवप्रेषिता बाणा मनोडनिलसमा जवे । ननागाश्चवान् विदेहासून् कर्तरिश्न सहस्रश:,गाण्डीव धनुषसे छूटे हुए बाण मन और वायुके समान वेगशाली होते हैं। वे शत्रुओंके सहस्रों हाथी-घोड़े और मनुष्योंको शरीर और प्राणोंसे शून्य कर देंगे
gāṇḍīvapreṣitā bāṇā manodanilasamā jave | nānāgāś ca vān videhāsūn kartariśn sahasraśaḥ ||
قال أرجونا: «إن السهام المنطلقة من قوس غانديفا سريعة كالفكر والريح. وبآلاف لا تُحصى ستجرّد العدو من الجسد والنَّفَس، فتُسقط الفيلة والخيول والرجال على السواء.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos in the Mahābhārata: in war, decisive force and mastery of weapons are presented as instruments of duty, even though they entail grave destruction. It reflects the tension between ethical responsibility and the brutal necessities of battle.
Arjuna declares the overwhelming speed and lethal effectiveness of the arrows he releases from Gāṇḍīva, asserting that they will fell vast numbers of enemy forces—men and war-animals—by depriving them of life.