Shloka 8
Virāṭa-parva Adhyāya 42 — Duryodhana’s counsel to Bhīṣma on ajñātavāsa risk and raid strategy
कस्यायमसितश्नाप: पड्चशार्दूललक्षण: । वराहकर्णव्यामिश्रान् शरान् धारयते दश,सिरपर पाँच सिंहोंके चिह्न हैं, ऐसा यह काले रंगका धनुष किसका है? यह तो सूअरके कानके समान नोकवाले दस बाणोंको एक साथ धारण कर सकता है
uttara uvāca | kasyāyam asitaḥ śnāpaḥ pañcaśārdūlalakṣaṇaḥ | varāhakarṇavyāmiśrān śarān dhārayate daśa |
Uttara berkata: “Milik siapakah busur yang gelap ini, bertanda lambang lima ekor harimau? Ia mampu memegang sepuluh anak panah serentak, dengan hujungnya dibentuk seperti telinga babi hutan.”
उत्तर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights discernment and respect for martial responsibility: Uttara recognizes that weapons carry identity and consequence, prompting inquiry before action—an ethical posture in a war-bound context.
In the Virāṭa episode, Uttara notices a distinctive bow and a set of specialized arrows and asks whose formidable weapon it is, signaling the discovery/identification of a great warrior’s arms.