Shloka 32
शक्त्यूष्टिप्रासहस्तानां बलानामभिगर्जताम् । संकल्पमकरोन्मोघं गाण्डीवेन धनंजय:,महाराज! धृष्टद्युम्न आदि पाण्डवोंने अत्यन्त कुपित होकर आपकी सेनापर धावा किया था तथा शक्ति, ऋष्टि और प्रास हाथमें लेकर गर्जना करनेवाले आपके योद्धाओंका सारा संकल्प अर्जुनने अपने गाण्डीव धनुषसे व्यर्थ कर दिया था
sañjaya uvāca | śakty-uṣṭi-prāsa-hastānāṃ balānām abhigarjatām | saṅkalpam akarod moghaṃ gāṇḍīvena dhanaṃjayaḥ, mahārāja |
Sanjaya said: O King, as your troops—brandishing spears, uṣṭis, and prāsas—roared in challenge, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) made their entire resolve futile with his Gāṇḍīva bow. In the larger movement of the battle, the Pandava onset (led from the front by figures such as Dhṛṣṭadyumna) meets a decisive counter: Arjuna’s disciplined archery breaks the enemy’s momentum, showing how skill and steadiness can nullify mere ferocity and noise on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In a dharmic war setting, mere aggression and loud bravado do not ensure success; disciplined mastery and steady resolve (here, Arjuna’s controlled use of Gāṇḍīva) can neutralize an opponent’s intentions. The verse highlights how effective action, not noise, determines outcomes.
Sanjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava troops, roaring while holding spears and similar weapons, advanced with determination, but Arjuna countered so effectively with his bow that their plan and momentum became fruitless.