Shloka 13
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
शड्खस्वनास्तूर्यरथस्वनाश्न सर्वेष्वनीकेषु ससिंहनादा: । तत:ः: सबाणानि महास्वनानि विस्फार्यमाणानि धनूंषि वीरै:
saṅkhasvanās tūryarathasvanāś ca sarveṣv anīkeṣu sa-siṃhanādāḥ | tataḥ sa-bāṇāni mahāsvanāni visphāryamāṇāni dhanūṃṣi vīraiḥ || dhanuḥvedavido mukhyā ajeyāḥ śatrubhir yudhi | sahatāputraṃ jighāṃsantaṃ parivavruḥ kirīṭinam ||
Sañjaya sprach: In allen Abteilungen des Heeres erhoben sich zugleich das Dröhnen der Muschelhörner, der Klang von Trompeten und Instrumenten, das Rollen der Wagen und die löwenhaften Rufe der Krieger. Dann hallte das mächtige Schnarren der Bögen wider, die von Helden gespannt wurden—die Pfeile bereits aufgelegt—als sie zum Schlag bereitstanden. Als erstrangige Meister der Bogenschießkunst, im Kampf für Feinde unbezwingbar, umringten sie den diademgekrönten Arjuna, entschlossen, ihn samt seinem Sohn zu töten.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how war amplifies collective intent: disciplined skill (dhanuḥveda) and coordinated force can be directed toward a single objective—here, the attempted killing of Arjuna and his son—reminding the reader of the grave ethical weight of martial resolve and the consequences of choosing violence as a means.
Sañjaya describes the battlefield erupting with conches, instruments, chariots, and war-cries; then bows are drawn with arrows set, producing a loud twang. Foremost archers, deemed hard to defeat in combat, close in and surround Arjuna (the diadem-wearer), intent on killing him along with his son.