Shloka 21
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Disclosure, Drupada’s Counsel, and the Petition to Yakṣa Sthūṇākarṇa
Udyoga Parva 192
जहास सस्वनं हासं वाक््यं चेदमुवाच ह । न हि यावद् रणे पार्थ बाणशड्खधनुर्धरम्
sañjaya uvāca | jahāsa sasvanaṃ hāsaṃ vākyaṃ cedam uvāca ha | na hi yāvad raṇe pārtha bāṇaśaṅkhadhanurdharam |
Dijo Sañjaya: Bhīṣma soltó una carcajada sonora y luego pronunció estas palabras: «¡Oh Pārtha!, mientras en la batalla no contemples al que empuña flechas, caracola y arco…».
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical caution: confidence in war must be grounded in reality, not in boastful speech. Pride before facing the true measure of an opponent is portrayed as empty and potentially self-deceptive.
Sañjaya narrates that Bhīṣma laughs loudly and begins a pointed reply addressed to Pārtha (Arjuna), setting up a rebuke of premature bravado—spoken in the context of battlefield claims and vows.