Shloka 186
अनुक्रमणिकाध्यायः (Anukramaṇikā Adhyāya) — Invocation, Narrator Frame, and Textual Scope
यदाओ्रौष॑ शान्तनवे शयाने पानीयार्थे चोदितेनार्जुनेन । भूमिं भित्त्वा तर्पितं तत्र भीष्म॑ तदा नाशंसे विजयाय संजय,संजय! जब मैंने सुना कि शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मपितामहने शरशय्यापर सोते समय अर्जुनको संकेत किया और उन्होंने बाणसे धरतीका भेदन करके उनकी प्यास बुझा दी, तब मैंने विजयकी आशा त्याग दी
yadāśrauṣaṃ śāntanave śayāne pānīyārthe coditenārjunena | bhūmiṃ bhittvā tarpitaṃ tatra bhīṣmaṃ tadā nāśaṃse vijayāya sañjaya ||
When I heard that Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, lying upon his bed of arrows, asked for water, and that Arjuna—at his prompting—pierced the earth with an arrow and thereby satisfied Bhīṣma’s thirst, then, O Sañjaya, I abandoned all hope of victory.
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary competence joined with respectful service to an elder can decisively shift morale and perceived outcomes in war. Ethical strength here is shown as disciplined skill used in the service of duty and reverence, making opponents lose confidence.
The speaker says that upon hearing of Bhīṣma lying on a bed of arrows and requesting water, and of Arjuna piercing the earth with an arrow to bring forth water and quench Bhīṣma’s thirst, he lost hope of victory—seeing Arjuna’s exceptional capability and readiness.