Shloka 12
उत्तरोपदेशः
Uttara’s Fear and Arjuna’s Martial Reassertion
संस्पृश्य तानि चापानि भानुमन्ति बृहन्ति च । वैराटिरर्जुनं राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्
saṁspṛśya tāni cāpāni bhānumanti bṛhanti ca | vairāṭir arjunaṁ rājann idaṁ vacanam abravīt ||
വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—ഭാനുമന്തവും ബൃഹന്തവും എന്ന ആ ധനുസ്സുകളെ സ്പർശിച്ച ശേഷം, രാജാവേ, വിരാടപുത്രൻ ഉത്തരൻ അർജുനനോട് ഈ വാക്കുകൾ പറഞ്ഞു.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Readiness for righteous action is shown through concrete commitment: touching and taking up the instruments of duty. The verse highlights the ethical transition from fear or uncertainty toward responsible engagement under proper guidance.
In the Virāṭa episode, after the bows are brought forth, Uttara physically touches the famed bows Bhānumant and Bṛhant and then begins speaking to Arjuna. The narrator Vaiśampāyana reports this to King Janamejaya, setting up Uttara’s ensuing words and the next turn in the confrontation.