Shloka 31
Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance
आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्नाद् वारयामास सायकै: । राजन! वे अस्त्र-शस्त्र लेकर पाण्डवपक्षके पाँच श्रेष्ठ महारथियोंका रफणक्षेत्रमें बाणोंद्वारा यत्नपूर्वक निवारण करने लगे ।। ३० ड ।। नानाशत्त्रास्त्रवर्षैस्तान् वीर्यामर्षप्रवेरितै:
āttaśastro raṇe yatnād vārayāmāsa sāyakaiḥ | rājan nānāśastrāstravarṣais tān vīryāmarṣapravīritaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Dengan senjata terangkat, Bhīṣma berusaha di medan laga menahan mereka dengan rentetan anak panah, wahai Raja. Didorong oleh keberanian dan amarah yang menyala, ia menghujani mereka dengan beragam senjata dan peluru perang, demi membendung laju para kesatria itu.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of disciplined exertion in war: one must act with determined effort (yatna) to restrain an advancing foe, even when driven by intense emotions like amarṣa (indignation). It implicitly contrasts duty-bound control (vāraṇa—checking) with uncontrolled rage, showing how force is framed as purposeful and strategic rather than merely violent.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a warrior, having taken up weapons, is attempting to hold back opposing fighters on the battlefield by shooting arrows and unleashing varied weapons and missiles, propelled by valor and anger.