Shloka 47
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
अथार्जुनो रणे भीम॑ योधयन्तं महारथान्,भरतनन्दन! उस रणक्षेत्रमें भीम जिनके साथ युद्ध कर रहे थे, आपके पक्षके उन दस महारथी वीरोंके सामने भीष्मके वधकी इच्छा रखनेवाले अर्जुन भी शिखण्डीको आगे किये आ पहुँचे
sañjaya uvāca | athārjuno raṇe bhīmaṃ yodhayantaṃ mahārathān bharatanandana | tasmin raṇakṣetre bhīmena saha yuddhyamānān tava pakṣīyān daśa mahārathān vīrān prati bhīṣmavadhecchur arjuno'pi śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya samupāgamat |
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces Arjuna, oh gloria de los Bhāratas, deseoso de la muerte de Bhīṣma, avanzó en el campo de batalla colocando a Śikhaṇḍī delante de sí, y se enfrentó a aquellos diez grandes guerreros de carro de tu bando, a quienes Bhīma ya combatía. El gesto revela una elección deliberada, ética y táctica: Arjuna busca abatir a Bhīṣma valiéndose de la presencia que Bhīṣma no golpeará, convirtiendo un freno moral en arma decisiva.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharma in war includes constraints and vows that shape action. Arjuna’s aim (ending Bhishma’s dominance) is pursued by leveraging Bhishma’s ethical restraint toward Shikhandi, showing that moral commitments can decisively influence outcomes—sometimes becoming the very means by which a seemingly invincible warrior is overcome.
Bhima is already battling ten elite Kaurava chariot-warriors. At that moment Arjuna arrives, determined to bring about Bhishma’s fall, and advances with Shikhandi positioned in front—setting up the well-known episode where Bhishma refuses to fight Shikhandi, allowing Arjuna to strike.