Shloka 45
ततस्तु तं वै शरमप्रमेयं गाण्डीवधन्वा धनुषि व्ययोजयत् । युकत्वा महास्त्रेण परेण चाप॑ं विकृष्य गाण्डीवमुवाच सत्वरम्,तत्पश्चात् गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनने उस अप्रमेय शक्तिशाली बाणको धनुषपर रखा और उसे उत्तम एवं महान् दिव्यास्त्रसे अभिमन्त्रित करके तुरंत ही गाण्डीवको खींचते हुए कहा --
tatastu taṃ vai śaram aprameyaṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvā dhanuṣi vyayojayat | yuktvā mahāstreṇa pareṇa cāpaṃ vikṛṣya gāṇḍīvam uvāca satvaram ||
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces Arjuna, el que empuñaba el Gāṇḍīva, encajó en su arco aquella flecha de poder inconmensurable. Tras investir el arco con el mantra del supremo gran arma, tensó el Gāṇḍīva y habló al instante, señalando una resolución decisiva y conforme al deber en medio de la gravedad moral del combate.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined, purposeful action in a righteous cause: power (astra) is not mere aggression but a controlled instrument used with awareness of duty and consequence. Arjuna’s swift preparation reflects resolve guided by dharma rather than impulsive violence.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna places an extraordinarily powerful arrow on the Gāṇḍīva, empowers it through a supreme great-weapon invocation, draws the bow, and immediately speaks—marking the moment just before a decisive shot or command in the battle sequence.