Shloka 16
भीष्मरक्षण-उद्योगः, शिखण्डि-विवर्जनं, सर्वतोभद्र-व्यूहः
Protection of Bhīṣma, Exemption of Śikhaṇḍin, and the Sarvatobhadra Array
तमापततन्तं सम्प्रेक्ष्य बाणमिन्द्राशनिप्रभम् । लाघवान्मोचयामास महात्मा वै घटोत्कच:
tam āpatatantaṁ samprekṣya bāṇam indrāśaniprabhām | lāghavān mocayāmāsa mahātmā vai ghaṭotkacaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: Als er den Pfeil—strahlend wie Indras Donnerkeil—auf sich zurasen sah, entging der großherzige Ghaṭotkaca durch schiere Schnelligkeit seinem Treffer.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the harsh setting of war, survival and success depend on vigilant awareness (samprekṣya) and disciplined agility (lāghava). The verse implicitly affirms that skillful defense and quick judgment are ethically acceptable within the rules of combat.
An arrow shining like Indra’s thunderbolt rushes toward Ghaṭotkaca. He notices it in time and, using swift movement, avoids or slips free from its impact.