Shloka 20
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
समाधत्त सुसंकुद्धः क्षुरप्रं लोमवाहिनम् । तेन चिच्छेद नृपतेर्भीम: कार्मुकमुत्तमम्
saṃdadhat susaṃkuddhaḥ kṣurapraṃ lomavāhinam | tena ciccheda nṛpater bhīmaḥ kārmukam uttamam ||
संजय बोले—अत्यन्त क्रुद्ध होकर भीम ने पंखयुक्त तीक्ष्ण क्षुरप्र बाण का संधान किया। उसी से उसने राजा दुर्योधन के उत्तम धनुष को काट डाला, ताकि रण में उसकी युद्ध-शक्ति टूट जाए।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, power is ideally directed toward disabling an opponent’s capacity to harm rather than indulging in uncontrolled slaughter; the verse highlights disciplined martial action—severing the bow—to neutralize threat while fulfilling kṣatriya-duty.
Bhīma, furious in battle, sets a razor-headed arrow and uses it to cut Duryodhana’s excellent bow, aiming to weaken him decisively in the fight.