Shloka 30
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
(प्रच्छादयन् शरान् भीष्मो निशितान् कड्कपत्रिण: ।) भिनत्त्येकेन बाणेन सुमुखेन पतत्त्रिणा
(pracchādayan śarān bhīṣmo niśitān kaṅkapatriṇaḥ |) bhinattyekena bāṇena sumukhena patattriṇā
(Sañjaya said:) Covering the field with sharp arrows feathered like those of a heron, Bhīṣma splits them—each with a single arrow—shot from his well-made, swift-flying bow. The verse highlights the terrifying mastery of a senior warrior whose skill turns violence into a display of disciplined prowess within the grim ethic of battlefield duty.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores disciplined excellence in one’s appointed role: within the harsh framework of kṣatriya-dharma, Bhīṣma’s controlled precision symbolizes mastery and steadiness rather than reckless violence.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma on the battlefield: he showers sharp, feathered arrows and counters so effectively that he can split incoming arrows with a single shot, demonstrating overwhelming martial superiority.