Shloka 104
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
ततः प्रचरमाणस्तु पिता देवव्रतस्तव,तदनन्तर आपके पिता महारथी देवव्रतने तुरंत ही दूसरा धनुष लेकर वहाँ विचरण करते हुए ही क्षणभरमें उसपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ा दी। वह इन्द्रधनुषके समान प्रकाशित हो रहा था
tataḥ pracaramāṇas tu pitā devavratas tava | tadanantaraṃ mahārathī devavrato dvitīyaṃ dhanuḥ gṛhītvā tatraiva pracaran kṣaṇabhareṇa tasmin pratyāñcāṃ samāropayām āsa | tad indra-dhanuṣa iva prakāśamānaṃ babhūva |
Sañjaya said: Then your father Devavrata (Bhīṣma), moving about on the battlefield, at once took up another bow and, even while ranging there, strung it in a mere moment. That bow shone brilliantly, like Indra’s rainbow.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfastness and disciplined competence in the performance of one’s duty (kshatriya-dharma). Even amid the ethical weight of fratricidal war, Bhishma’s composure and readiness symbolize unwavering resolve and mastery over fear and hesitation.
Sanjaya describes Bhishma (Devavrata) on the battlefield: after an earlier moment, he immediately takes up another bow and strings it in an instant while still moving about. The bow’s radiance is compared to Indra’s rainbow, emphasizing his formidable presence.