Mahabharata 7.139.23 — Drona Parva, Adhyaya 139, Shloka 23
रात्रौ युद्धप्रवृत्तिः — Night Battle Begins; Duryodhana’s Protective Orders for Droṇa
Droṇa-parva 139
ततो वेगेन कौन्तेय: पीडयित्वा शरासनम् | मुष्टिना पाण्डवो राजन् दृढेन सुपरिष्कृतम्
sañjaya uvāca | tato vevena kaunteyaḥ pīḍayitvā śarāsanam | muṣṭinā pāṇḍavo rājan dṛḍhena supariṣkṛtam ||
സഞ്ജയൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അപ്പോൾ, ഹേ രാജാവേ, കൗന്തേയനായ പാണ്ഡവ ഭീമൻ വേഗത്തോടെ തന്റെ സുനിർമ്മിത ധനുസ്സിനെ ദൃഢമായ മുഷ്ടിയാൽ അമർത്തി ഉറപ്പിച്ചു.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined readiness in battle: strength is not mere rage but controlled technique. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s tension—martial excellence is praised even as the narrative reminds us that such skill serves a tragic, duty-bound conflict.
Sañjaya describes a Pāṇḍava (addressed as Kaunteya) bracing and pressing his well-crafted bow with a firm fist, signaling immediate preparation to release arrows in the ongoing battle.
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