Shloka 3
भीष्मस्य मण्डलव्यूहः — Bhīṣma’s Maṇḍala Battle-Formation and the Opening Engagements
तस्य विक्षिपतश्चापं शरानन्यांश्न॒ मुज्चत: । आददानस्य भूयश्न संदधानस्य चापरान्,जब वे धनुषको खींचते, दूसरे-दूसरे बाण छोड़ते, फिर नये-नये बाण हाथमें लेते, धनुषपर रखते, उन्हें शत्रुओंपर चलाते और उनका संहार करते थे, उस समय वर्षा करनेवाले मेघके समान उनका स्वरूप अत्यन्त अद्भुत दिखायी देता था
tasya vikṣipataś cāpaṃ śarān anyān anyān muñcataḥ | ādadānasya bhūyaś ca saṃdadhānasya cāparān |
Sañjaya said: As he drew and brandished his bow, loosing arrow after arrow, then taking up fresh shafts again and again and fitting still others to the string, his form—while he struck down the foes—appeared wondrous, like a rain-bearing cloud pouring forth its torrents in battle.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined martial focus—continuous readiness, swift action, and unwavering attention to one’s role in a righteous duty-bound context (kṣatriya conduct), while also portraying the awe such concentrated skill inspires.
Sañjaya describes a warrior in the thick of battle repeatedly drawing the bow, releasing successive arrows, taking new arrows, and setting them to the string—an unbroken rhythm of archery that makes him appear like a rain-cloud showering arrows upon enemies.