Shloka 18
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
समरे प्रेक्ष्य यन्तारं विशोक॑ तु वृकोदर: । पीडित॑ विशिखैस्ती#्ष्णैस्तव पुत्रेण धन्विना
saṃgare prekṣya yantāraṃ viśokaṃ tu vṛkodaraḥ | pīḍitaṃ viśikhaiḥ tīkṣṇaiḥ tava putreṇa dhanvinā ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als Vṛkodara (Bhīma) auf dem Schlachtfeld sah, wie sein Wagenlenker Viśoka von den scharfen Pfeilen verwundet wurde, die dein Sohn, der Bogenschütze, abgeschossen hatte, konnte er es nicht ertragen. Von Zorn überwältigt ergriff er seinen göttlichen Bogen, entschlossen, deinen Sohn zu töten; dann legte er einen geflügelten Pfeil mit rasiermesserscharfer Spitze auf und hieb damit den vortrefflichen Bogen König Duryodhanas entzwei.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior-ethic of protecting one’s dependents: Bhīma’s intolerance of harm to his charioteer becomes a catalyst for decisive action. It also illustrates how anger, when directed toward defending others, can intensify resolve—yet remains ethically charged because it risks excess in violence.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīma sees his charioteer Viśoka struck by sharp arrows shot by Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son (Duryodhana). Enraged, Bhīma takes up his divine bow and, using a razor-headed arrow, cuts down Duryodhana’s bow, escalating the duel.