Shloka 21
सम्प्रदत्तास्त्रशिक्षा वै पपानीकविनाशनी । सतां शिक्षामधिष्ठाय कुर्वन् परबलक्षयम्
sampradattāstraśikṣā vai pāṇḍavānīkavināśanī | satāṃ śikṣām adhiṣṭhāya kurvan parabalakṣayam, tāta |
Sañjaya said: “Relying on that instruction in divine weapons once bestowed—an instruction able to destroy the Pāṇḍava host—and standing firm upon the discipline taught by the noble, O dear one, Bhīṣma went on bringing about the ruin of the enemy’s forces.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the power and responsibility inherent in transmitted knowledge: weapon-training (astra-śikṣā) received from an eminent teacher becomes decisive in war. It also suggests that disciplined learning, grounded in the standards of the noble (satām), can be applied with unwavering effectiveness—raising ethical reflection on how great skills are used in a righteous yet tragic conflict.
Sanjaya describes Bhishma’s battlefield dominance: drawing upon the weapon-instruction he had received earlier (traditionally from Parashurama), Bhishma is actively causing heavy destruction to the opposing (Pandava) forces during the Kurukshetra war.