Shloka 4
भीष्मवधाय प्रयाणम् — The Advance toward Bhīṣma and Counter-Engagements
प्रगृह्दा च महावेगं परासुकरणं दृढम् । सज्जं शरासन संख्ये शरैरविव्याध ते सुतम्
pragṛhya ca mahāvegaṁ parāsukaraṇaṁ dṛḍham | sajjaṁ śarāsanaṁ saṅkhye śarair avivyādha te sutam ||
Sañjaya berkata: Ia mengangkat busur yang kokoh dan berdaya dahsyat—senjata yang merenggut nyawa di medan perang—lalu memasang talinya. Di tengah pertempuran ia menembus putra Paduka dengan banyak anak panah.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh ethical reality of war: martial excellence and readiness, though valued in kṣatriya-dharma, become instruments of death. It implicitly points to the tragic cost of conflict, where even rightful prowess results in grievous harm and deepens collective suffering.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a warrior takes up a powerful, deadly bow, strings it, and in the battle wounds Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s son with many arrows—signaling a decisive, violent exchange on the battlefield.