Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 39
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
तोमरं सैन्धवो राजा पट्टिशं च महाभुज: । शतघ्नीं च कृपो राजज्छरं शल्यश्व संयुगे
tomaraṃ saindhavo rājā paṭṭiśaṃ ca mahābhujaḥ | śataghnīṃ ca kṛpo rājaccharaṃ śalyaśva saṃyuge ||
Dijo Sañjaya: El rey Jayadratha de Sindhu, de poderosos brazos, arrojó un venablo (tomara) y un hacha de guerra (paṭṭiśa). Kṛpa empleó el arma śataghnī, y el rey Śalya, en plena refriega, disparó una flecha.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, warriors intensify their use of weapons out of allegiance and perceived duty (kṣatriya-dharma). Ethically, it points to the grim momentum of conflict: skill and obligation can propel violence forward, reminding readers to weigh the human and moral consequences that accompany martial prowess.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Jayadratha throws a tomara and a paṭṭiśa, Kṛpa uses a śataghnī weapon, and Śalya shoots an arrow—depicting a surge of attacks and varied weaponry on the battlefield.