Shloka 12
विस्फार्य गाण्डीवमथोग्रघोष॑ं ज्यया समाहत्य तले भृशं च । बाणान्धकारं सहसैव कृत्वा जघान नागाश्चरथध्वजांश्ष
visphārya gāṇḍīvam athogra-ghoṣaṁ jyayā samāhatya tale bhṛśaṁ ca | bāṇāndhakāraṁ sahasaiva kṛtvā jaghāna nāgāś ca ratha-dhvajāṁś ca ||
サンジャヤは言った。アルジュナは、凄まじい轟きを放つガーンディーヴァを大きく引き絞り、弦で掌を強く打って、たちまち「矢の闇」を広げた。その一瞬にして敵の戦象・戦車・旗印を粉砕した――残虐のための残虐ではなく、規律ある力によって戦局を転じる武芸の圧倒的な顕現であった。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in action: disciplined, decisive use of skill and power to neutralize hostile forces in war. The emphasis is on mastery, resolve, and tactical effectiveness—force employed as duty within the battlefield context, not as personal malice.
Sañjaya describes Arjuna drawing the Gāṇḍīva and snapping/striking the bowstring against his palm, producing a fearsome sound. He then unleashes a dense volley—‘darkness of arrows’—that rapidly destroys enemy elephants, chariots, and their standards.