Shloka 21
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
स संधाय शरांस्तीक्ष्णान् कर्मारपरिमार्जितान् । भीम॑ विव्याध समरे तिष्ठ तिछेति चाब्रवीत्
sa sandhāya śarāṁs tīkṣṇān karmāra-parimārjitān | bhīmaṁ vivyādha samare tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt ||
Sañjaya dit : Incapable de supporter la vaillance de Bhīma, le roi Śalya ajusta des flèches acérées, polies par un forgeron, et, au plus fort de la mêlée, transperça Bhīma. Puis il lança : « Tiens-toi ! Tiens-toi ! »—une provocation pour briser son élan et imposer sa puissance au cœur du chaos guerrier.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethos in epic warfare: prowess provokes counteraction, and psychological tactics (taunts like “Stand! Stand!”) accompany physical force. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma where courage, endurance, and steadfastness are tested under provocation.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya, unable to bear Bhīma’s display of strength, shoots him with sharp, well-polished arrows in the midst of battle and challenges him verbally, urging him to stop and face him.