Shloka 41
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
तोमरं च द्विधा चक्रे क्षुरप्रेणानिलात्मज: । पट्टिशं च त्रिभि्णिश्विच्छेद तिलकाण्डवत्,परंतु वायुपुत्र भीमसेनने एक क्षुरप्रसे जयद्रथके चलाये हुए तोमरके दो टुकड़े कर दिये; फिर तीन बाण मारकर पट्टिशको तिलके डंठलके समान टूक-टूक कर डाला
sañjaya uvāca | tomaraṃ ca dvidhā cakre kṣurapreṇānilātmajaḥ | paṭṭiśaṃ ca tribhir iṣubhiś ciccheda tilakāṇḍavat ||
Sañjaya said: The son of the Wind-god (Bhīmasena) split the tomara in two with a razor-headed arrow; and with three shafts he cut the paṭṭiśa to pieces, as one would sever the stalk of a tilaka plant. The scene reveals Bhīma’s fierce resolve and martial discipline—meeting deadly weapons not with rage alone, but with controlled skill and unwavering purpose.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid violent conflict, the text highlights disciplined prowess: a warrior’s duty is carried out through steadiness, precision, and mastery over impulse—strength guided by control rather than mere fury.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīma counters incoming weapons by expertly severing them mid-flight: he splits a tomara with a razor-headed arrow and then chops a paṭṭiśa into fragments with three arrows, likened to cutting a thin plant-stalk.