Shloka 376
दीप्यमानमिवाकाशे गाण्डीवं समदृश्यत । सुदृढ़ धनुष धारण करनेवाले अर्जुन जब सहस्रों बाणोंकी सृष्टि करने लगे, उस समय उनका गाण्डीव धनुष आकाशमें प्रज्वलित-सा दिखायी देने लगा
sañjaya uvāca | dīpyamānam ivākāśe gāṇḍīvaṃ samadṛśyata | sudṛḍha-dhanuṣ-dhāraṇa-karaṇe vāle arjuna yathā sahasrāṇi bāṇānāṃ sṛṣṭiṃ kartum ārabdhavān, tadā tasya gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuḥ ākāśe prajvalitam iva dṛśyate sma |
Sañjaya said: In the sky, Arjuna’s Gāṇḍīva bow appeared as though it were blazing. As the firm-armed archer began to unleash a creation of thousands of arrows, the bow seemed to flare with fiery brilliance—signaling the righteous warrior’s resolute entry into the battle’s decisive action.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical gravity of righteous action in war: when a dharmic warrior commits to necessary duty, his resolve manifests as clarity and power. The ‘blazing’ Gāṇḍīva symbolizes focused intent and the formidable energy that accompanies disciplined, duty-bound action.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna begins releasing an overwhelming volley—‘thousands of arrows.’ In that moment, Arjuna’s bow Gāṇḍīva appears to blaze in the sky, highlighting the intensity of his assault and the turning force of his presence on the battlefield.