Shloka 20
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
तथैवार्जुनिना मुक्ता: शरा: कनकभूषणा:
tathaivārjuninā muktāḥ śarāḥ kanakabhūṣaṇāḥ
Sañjaya said: In the same manner, the arrows released by Arjuna—adorned with gold—sped forth, signaling his resolute engagement in the battle. The image underscores disciplined martial action: power directed with purpose rather than mere rage, as the war’s ethical weight presses upon every act.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action in a morally charged setting: Arjuna’s force is not random violence but purposeful, duty-bound engagement. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring concern that even in war, conduct should be governed by resolve, restraint, and dharma.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna releases arrows adorned with gold, describing the intensity and splendor of the combat. The line functions as a vivid battlefield detail, emphasizing Arjuna’s active participation and the formidable exchange of missiles.