Shloka 4
भीष्मधृतराष्ट्रसंवादः — पाण्डवबलप्रशंसा
Bhishma–Dhritarashtra Dialogue: Appraisal of Pandava Strength
एतस्य हि महाराज यथा गाण्डीवधन्वन: । शरासनविनिर्मुक्ता: संसक्ता यान्ति सायका:,महाराज! गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनकी भाँति इसके धनुषसे एक साथ छूटे हुए बहुत-से बाण भी परस्पर सटे हुए ही लक्ष्यतक पहुँचते हैं
etasya hi mahārāja yathā gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ | śarāsana-vinirmuktāḥ saṃsaktā yānti sāyakāḥ ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó grande rei, assim como Arjuna, o portador do arco Gāṇḍīva, as flechas que ele solta de seu arco—por mais numerosas que sejam—avançam em formação cerrada, como se estivessem presas umas às outras, até alcançarem o alvo.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights exemplary mastery and focused effectiveness: when a warrior’s skill and intent are perfectly aligned, even many actions (arrows) move as one toward a single aim (the target). In counsel to a king, it underscores the power of disciplined capability and unified direction.
Bhīṣma is describing Arjuna’s extraordinary archery. He compares the discussed person’s effectiveness to Arjuna’s Gāṇḍīva: numerous arrows released together travel tightly grouped and still reach the mark, emphasizing formidable prowess in the context of impending conflict.