Shloka 39
Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
शारद्वतस्ततो राजन् भीष्मस्य प्रमुखे स्थितम् । अर्जुनं पञज्चविंशत्या सायकानां समाचिनोत्,राजन! उस समय भीष्मके सामने खड़े हुए अर्जुनको कृपाचार्यने पचीस बाण मारे
śāradvatastato rājan bhīṣmasya pramukhe sthitam | arjunaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā sāyakānāṃ samācinot ||
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces, oh Rey, Śāradvata (Kṛpa), al ver a Arjuna de pie en primera línea frente a Bhīṣma, lo hirió con veinticinco flechas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its starkest form: warriors fulfill their role through disciplined combat. It also reminds the listener that even righteous heroes endure suffering in a conflict where duty and moral ambiguity coexist.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Kṛpa (Śāradvata) targets Arjuna, who is positioned prominently before Bhīṣma, and strikes him with twenty-five arrows during the battle.