Shloka 17
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
भीमस्य च रणे राजन धरनुश्चिच्छेद भासुरम् । मुष्टिदेशे भृशं ती#णैस्त्रिभिर्भल्लैर्हसन्निव,राजन! इसके बाद दुर्योधनने युद्धस्थलमें तीन अत्यन्त तीखे भल्लोंद्वारा हँसते हुए-से भीमके तेजस्वी धनुषको भी बीचसे काट दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
bhīmasya ca raṇe rājan dhanuś ciccheda bhāsuram |
muṣṭideśe bhṛśaṃ tīkṣṇais tribhir bhallair hasann iva ||
Disse Sañjaya: Ó Rei, no meio da batalha ele decepou o arco brilhante de Bhīma—cortando-o no próprio punho—com três flechas bhalla extremamente afiadas, como se sorrisse.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in war, mastery and intent can disable an opponent by targeting the instrument of action (the bow) rather than merely the body—showing the ethical tension of kṣatriya-dharma: valor and skill are praised, yet the spectacle of ‘laughing’ while harming points to the hardening of the heart that prolonged conflict can produce.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, during the fight, Bhīma’s shining bow is cut through at the grip with three very sharp bhalla arrows, the attacker appearing to do so with a mocking smile—an act meant to disarm and psychologically dominate Bhīma.