Shloka 22
ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा रथेन रथिनां वर: । शयानं भरतमश्रेष्ठं सर्वशस्त्रभूृतां वरम्,अविध्यत् पृथिवीं पार्थ: पाश्वे भीष्मस्य दक्षिणे । अर्जुनका बाणद्ारा पृथ्वीसे जल प्रकट करके भीष्मजीको पिलाना तब रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ पाण्डुपुत्र अर्जुनने शरशय्यापर सोये हुए सम्पूर्ण शस्त्रधारियोंमें उत्तम भरतशिरोमणि भीष्मकी रथद्वारा ही परिक्रमा करके अपने धनुषपर एक तेजस्वी बाणका संधान किया और सब लोगोंके देखते-देखते मन्त्रोच्चारणपूर्वक उस बाणको पर्जन्यास्त्रसे संयुक्त करके भीष्मके दाहिने पार्श्व॒में पृथ्वीपर उसे चलाया
tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṁ kṛtvā rathena rathināṁ varaḥ | śayānaṁ bharataśreṣṭhaṁ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṁ varam avidhyat pṛthivīṁ pārthaḥ pārśve bhīṣmasya dakṣiṇe ||
Sañjaya said: Then Pārtha Arjuna, best among chariot-warriors, drove his chariot in reverent circumambulation and, beside Bhīṣma’s right flank, struck the earth with an arrow. Thus, honoring the fallen elder while still acting within the demands of battle, Arjuna caused water to spring forth for Bhīṣma—an act that joins martial skill with filial duty and compassion toward a revered opponent.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid righteous warfare, dharma includes compassion and reverence: Arjuna honors Bhīṣma as an elder and exemplary warrior, using his skill not to harm but to relieve suffering—showing that duty and humanity are not mutually exclusive.
Bhīṣma lies on the bed of arrows. Arjuna circles him respectfully with the chariot and then shoots the ground near Bhīṣma’s right side so that water springs forth, enabling Bhīṣma to drink.