Shloka 8
Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)
ततः क्रोधाभिताम्राक्ष: कृष्णेन सह फाल्गुन: । दीर्घमुष्णं च नि:श्वस्य चिन्तयित्वा पुन: पुन: ७ ।। धनु: प्रपीड्य वामेन करेणामित्रकर्शन: । गाण्डीवधन्वा संक्रुद्ध:/ शितान् संनतपर्वण:,तब श्रीकृष्णसहित अर्जुनने क्रोधसे लाल आँखें करके बारंबार गरम-गरम लंबी साँस खींचकर सोच-विचार करनेके पश्चात् धनुषको बायें हाथसे दबाया। फिर उन शशत्रुसूदन गाण्डीवधारी पार्थने कुपित हो झुकी हुई गाँठवाले कुछ भयंकर बाण हाथमें लिये, जो जीवनका अन्त कर देनेवाले थे। बलवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ अर्जुनने उन बाणोंद्वारा तुरंत ही समरांगणमें अश्वत्थामाको घायल किया
tataḥ krodhābhitāmrākṣaḥ kṛṣṇena saha phālgunaḥ | dīrgham uṣṇaṃ ca niḥśvasya cintayitvā punaḥ punaḥ || dhanuḥ prapīḍya vāmena kareṇāmitrakarśanaḥ | gāṇḍīvadhanvā saṃkruddhaḥ śitān saṃnataparvaṇaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Then Arjuna (Phālguna), with Kṛṣṇa beside him, his eyes reddened by anger, repeatedly reflected, drawing long, hot breaths. Pressing his bow with his left hand, that crusher of foes—the wielder of Gāṇḍīva—rose in wrath, taking up sharp arrows with well-jointed shafts, intent on bringing an end to life. The scene underscores how, amid war, disciplined action must contend with surging anger, and how a warrior’s resolve can harden into lethal intent when provoked.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension in battle: anger can drive a warrior toward excessive violence, so even when action is required by kṣatriya-duty, it must be tempered by reflection and restraint; otherwise resolve becomes mere wrath.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna, accompanied by Kṛṣṇa, becoming visibly enraged, breathing hard, thinking repeatedly, then steadying his bow and taking up sharp arrows—preparing to strike decisively on the battlefield.