Shloka 4
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
शल्यस्तु नवभिर्बाणैर्भीमसेनमताडयत् । कृतवर्मा त्रिभिर्बाणै: कृपश्च नवशभि: शरै:,शल्यने नौ बाणोंसे भीमसेनको गहरी चोट पहुँचायी। फिर कृतवर्मने तीन और कृपाचार्यने उन्हें नौ बाण मारे
śalyas tu navabhir bāṇair bhīmasenam atāḍayat | kṛtavarmā tribhir bāṇaiḥ kṛpaś ca navaśabhiḥ śaraiḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Śalya frappa Bhīmasena de neuf flèches, lui infligeant une blessure grave. Puis Kṛtavarmā le perça de trois traits, et Kṛpa (Kṛpācārya) de neuf autres. La scène met en relief la violence implacable et concertée du champ de bataille, où la prouesse et le devoir envers son camp poussent les guerriers à presser l’avantage sans répit.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: once battle is joined, warriors act with unwavering commitment to their chosen side and duty, even when it means inflicting severe harm. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension between dharma as obligation and the human cost of violence.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya wounds Bhīma with nine arrows; immediately afterward, Kṛtavarmā and then Kṛpa also shoot Bhīma with additional arrows, showing a concentrated, sequential assault on a key Pāṇḍava fighter.