Shloka 31
Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance
आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्नाद् वारयामास सायकै: । राजन! वे अस्त्र-शस्त्र लेकर पाण्डवपक्षके पाँच श्रेष्ठ महारथियोंका रफणक्षेत्रमें बाणोंद्वारा यत्नपूर्वक निवारण करने लगे ।।
āttaśastro raṇe yatnād vārayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ | rājan nānāśastrāstravarṣais tān vīryāmarṣapravīritaiḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Ayant saisi ses armes, ô Roi, il s’efforça sur le champ de bataille de les contenir par des volées de flèches. Poussé par la vaillance et une âpre indignation, il fit pleuvoir sur ces guerriers des armes et des traits de toutes sortes afin de les entraver.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of disciplined exertion in war: one must act with determined effort (yatna) to restrain an advancing foe, even when driven by intense emotions like amarṣa (indignation). It implicitly contrasts duty-bound control (vāraṇa—checking) with uncontrolled rage, showing how force is framed as purposeful and strategic rather than merely violent.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a warrior, having taken up weapons, is attempting to hold back opposing fighters on the battlefield by shooting arrows and unleashing varied weapons and missiles, propelled by valor and anger.