Shloka 3
Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)
द्रौणिरगाण्डीवधन्चानं भीमधन्वा महारथ: । अविध्यदिषुभि: षड्भिद्दृढहस्त: स्तनान्तरे,भयंकर धनुष धारण करनेवाले महारथी अश्वत्थामाने अपने हाथकी दृढ़ताका परिचय देते हुए गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनकी छातीमें छः बाणोंसे प्रहार किया
sañjaya uvāca | drauṇir agāṇḍīvadhanañ ca bhīmadhanvā mahārathaḥ | avidhyad iṣubhiḥ ṣaḍbhir dṛḍhahastaḥ stanāntare ||
संजय बोले—भयंकर धनुष धारण करनेवाले महारथी द्रोणपुत्र अश्वत्थामा ने अपने हाथ की दृढ़ता दिखाते हुए गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुन की छाती में छः बाणों से प्रहार किया।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in the Kurukṣetra war, excellence and steadiness (dṛḍhahastatā) are displayed through disciplined action; yet the very need to prove prowess by wounding kin reminds the listener of the tragic ethical tension of kṣatriya-duty within a destructive conflict.
Sañjaya reports a specific exchange in battle: Aśvatthāman, renowned as Droṇa’s son and a great warrior, shoots six arrows at Arjuna (the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva), striking him in the chest area.