Shloka 47
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
अथार्जुनो रणे भीम॑ योधयन्तं महारथान्,भरतनन्दन! उस रणक्षेत्रमें भीम जिनके साथ युद्ध कर रहे थे, आपके पक्षके उन दस महारथी वीरोंके सामने भीष्मके वधकी इच्छा रखनेवाले अर्जुन भी शिखण्डीको आगे किये आ पहुँचे
sañjaya uvāca | athārjuno raṇe bhīmaṃ yodhayantaṃ mahārathān bharatanandana | tasmin raṇakṣetre bhīmena saha yuddhyamānān tava pakṣīyān daśa mahārathān vīrān prati bhīṣmavadhecchur arjuno'pi śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya samupāgamat |
Sañjaya dit : Alors Arjuna, ô joie des Bhārata, résolu à la mort de Bhīṣma, s’avança sur le champ de bataille en plaçant Śikhaṇḍī devant lui, et fit face à ces dix grands guerriers de char de ton camp, que Bhīma combattait déjà. Ce mouvement marque un choix délibéré, à la fois éthique et tactique : Arjuna veut abattre Bhīṣma en s’appuyant sur la présence que Bhīṣma ne frappera pas, transformant une contrainte morale en stratégie décisive.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how dharma in war includes constraints and vows that shape action. Arjuna’s aim (ending Bhishma’s dominance) is pursued by leveraging Bhishma’s ethical restraint toward Shikhandi, showing that moral commitments can decisively influence outcomes—sometimes becoming the very means by which a seemingly invincible warrior is overcome.
Bhima is already battling ten elite Kaurava chariot-warriors. At that moment Arjuna arrives, determined to bring about Bhishma’s fall, and advances with Shikhandi positioned in front—setting up the well-known episode where Bhishma refuses to fight Shikhandi, allowing Arjuna to strike.