Shloka 45
Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion
Bṛhannadā/Arjuna
ततः: शान्तनवो भीष्मो वाम॑ पार्श्रमताडयत् । पश्यत: प्रतिसंधाय विध्यत: सव्यसाचिन:,तदनन्तर शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने (कौरवसेनाको) घायल करनेवाले सव्यसाची अर्जुनके देखते-देखते बाणसंधान करके उनका बायाँ पार्श्व बींध डाला
tataḥ śāntanavo bhīṣmo vāmaṃ pārśvam atāḍayat | paśyataḥ pratisaṃdhāya vidhyataḥ savyasācinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Dann traf Bhīṣma, der Sohn Śāntanus, nachdem er sein Ziel sorgfältig gefasst hatte, Arjuna an der linken Seite — vor Arjunas eigenen Augen — mit höchster Präzision. Die Szene betont die strenge Ethik des Krieges: Selbst die größten Kämpfer, gebunden an die gewählte Loyalität und an die Pflicht des Kṣatriya, setzen vollendete Kunst ein, um einen würdigen Gegner ohne Zögern zu verwunden.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya code in its stark form: mastery, resolve, and unwavering execution of one’s chosen duty in battle. It also points to the moral tension of war—greatness in skill can serve opposing loyalties, and righteousness is tested amid violence rather than displayed only in peace.
Bhīṣma, identified as Śāntanu’s son, takes aim and shoots so as to strike Arjuna (called Savyasācin) on the left side, doing so openly and decisively in Arjuna’s presence.