Shloka 9
Bhīṣma–Arjuna Strategic Engagement at Virāṭa’s Frontier (भीष्मार्जुनयुद्धम्)
ततः पार्थो महाबाहु: प्रहस्य स्वनवत् तदा । योजयामास नवया मौर्व्या गाण्डीवमोजसा,उस समय महाबाहु पार्थ ठहाका मारकर हँसने लगे। फिर उन्होंने गाण्डीव धनुषपर बलपूर्वक नयी प्रत्यंचा चढ़ा दी
tataḥ pārtho mahābāhuḥ prahasya svanavat tadā | yojayāmāsa navayā maurvyā gāṇḍīvam ojasā ||
അപ്പോൾ മഹാബാഹുവായ പാർഥൻ മുഴങ്ങുന്ന ശബ്ദത്തോടെ ചിരിച്ചു; പിന്നെ ശക്തിയോടെ ഗാണ്ഡീവത്തിൽ പുതിയ ജ്യാ കെട്ടി.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined strength: power is not merely possessed but deliberately prepared and directed. Arjuna’s laughter and the act of stringing Gāṇḍīva convey inner steadiness and confident readiness to uphold kṣatriya-duty when the moment for decisive action arrives.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Arjuna laughs aloud and then forcefully strings his famed bow, Gāṇḍīva, with a new bowstring—an immediate sign that he is about to engage in combat or a formidable display of martial prowess.