Shloka 28
Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion
Bṛhannadā/Arjuna
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भीष्मो<न्यत् कार्मुकं रणे । समादाय महाबाहु: सज्यं चक्रे महारथ: । शरांश्व सुबहून् क्रुद्धो मुमोचाशु धनंजये,किंतु विशाल भुजाओंवाले महारथी भीष्मने पलक मारते-मारते उस युद्धमें दूसरा धनुष ले उसपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ा दी और क्रोधमें भरकर धनंजयपर बहुत-से बाणोंका प्रहार किया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | nimeṣāntaramātreṇa bhīṣmo 'nyat kārmukaṃ raṇe | samādāya mahābāhuḥ sajyaṃ cakre mahārathaḥ | śarāṃś ca bahūn kruddho mumocāśu dhanañjaye ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dalam sekelip mata sahaja, Bhīṣma—yang berlengan perkasa dan seorang maharathi—mengambil busur yang lain di medan perang lalu memasang talinya. Kemudian, dibakar amarah, dia segera melepaskan banyak anak panah ke arah Dhanañjaya (Arjuna).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights two intertwined lessons: (1) the ideal of preparedness and mastery expected of a kṣatriya—swiftly recovering and continuing one’s duty in battle; and (2) the ethical warning that anger (krodha) can drive excessive aggression, intensifying harm even when one acts within the framework of wartime duty.
During combat, Bhīṣma immediately replaces his bow, strings it in an instant, and—angered—rapidly shoots a large volley of arrows at Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), showing both his formidable skill and the heightened ferocity of the encounter.