Shloka 26
Rajo-dhūli-saṃmūḍha-saṅgrāmaḥ
The Dust-Obscured Battle and Mutual Charges
स विस्फार्य महच्चापं शक्रचापोपमं बली
sa visphārya mahācāpaṃ śakracāpōpamaṃ balī
Sañjaya said: The mighty warrior, drawing his great bow—like the bow of Śakra (Indra)—made it ring out, signaling readiness for battle and the grave resolve that drives the combatants onward.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of resolve and preparedness: the warrior’s act of drawing the bow is not mere display, but a public commitment to face the consequences of battle with steadfast courage.
In Sañjaya’s battlefield report, a powerful fighter draws and stretches a great bow, likened to Indra’s bow, producing the characteristic twang that marks readiness and signals the onset or intensification of combat.