Mahabharata 3.37.20 — Vana Parva, Adhyaya 37, Shloka 20
Vyāsa’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira: Pratismṛti-vidyā, Arjuna’s Aśtra-Quest, and the Move to Kāmyaka
प्रातिष्ठत महाबाहु: प्रगूहीतशरासन: । वधाय धाररराष्ट्राणां नि:श्वस्योर्ध्वमुदीक्ष्य च
vaiśampāyana uvāca | prātiṣṭhata mahābāhuḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ | vadhāya dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṁ niḥśvasyordhvam udīkṣya ca |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Der Held mit den mächtigen Armen brach auf, Bogen und Pfeile ergriffen. Er holte tief Atem, blickte empor und zog davon mit dem Entschluss, den Sturz der Söhne Dhṛtarāṣṭras herbeizuführen—eine Tat, als Gehorsam gegenüber dem Gebot des gerechten Königs und als Schritt unter göttlicher Billigung gedeutet.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya resolve aligned with dharma: action is undertaken with clear intent and steadiness, not as personal rage but as a duty-bound step toward restoring rightful order against adharma.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the mighty warrior (Arjuna) arms himself, looks upward, draws a deep breath, and sets out with the intention of confronting and ultimately destroying the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
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