Shloka 36
भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा
Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength
एतेन युद्धम भवत् पुरा गाण्डीवधन्वन: । दिवसान् सुबहून् राजन्नुभयोर्जयगृद्धिनो:
etena yuddham abhavat purā gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ | divasān subahūn rājann ubhayor jayagṛddhinoḥ ||
রাজন, পূর্বে গাণ্ডীবধারী অর্জুনের সঙ্গে এর যুদ্ধ হয়েছিল। সেই সংঘর্ষে উভয় পক্ষই জয়ের আকাঙ্ক্ষায় বহু দিন ধরে যুদ্ধ করেছিল।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the craving for victory (jaya-gṛddhi) can prolong conflict; it implicitly cautions that ambition and rivalry sustain war beyond necessity, a concern central to kṣatriya ethics and prudent kingship.
Bhīṣma recalls an earlier encounter in which Arjuna, famed as the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, fought a prolonged battle against the person referred to as ‘this one’; both combatants sought victory and continued fighting for many days.