Shloka 20
अर्जुनस्तु तथेत्युक्त्वा रथमारुहय[ वीर्यवान् | अधिज्यं बलवत् कृत्वा गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद् धनु:,तब “बहुत अच्छा" कहकर पराक्रमी अर्जुन रथपर आरूढ़ हो गये और गाण्डीव धनुषपर बलपूर्वक प्रत्यंचा चढ़ाकर उसे खींचने लगे
arjunas tu tathety uktvā ratham āruhayad vīryavān | adhijyaṃ balavat kṛtvā gāṇḍīvaṃ vyākṣipad dhanuḥ ||
Sañjaya said: Having replied, “So be it,” the valiant Arjuna mounted his chariot. Then, stringing the Gāṇḍīva with force, he drew the bow—signaling firm resolve to enter the battle in accordance with his warrior duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: once a decision aligned with duty is accepted (“tatheti”), it must be carried out with steadiness and disciplined resolve, not wavering at the moment of action.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna assents and immediately prepares for combat: he mounts the chariot and powerfully strings and draws the Gāṇḍīva, a concrete sign that he is ready to engage in the coming battle.