Shloka 21
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
स संधाय शरांस्तीक्ष्णान् कर्मारपरिमार्जितान् । भीम॑ विव्याध समरे तिष्ठ तिछेति चाब्रवीत्,उस समय राजा शल्य भीमसेनके उस पराक्रमको न सह सके। उन्होंने लोहारके माँजे हुए पैने बाणोंका संधान करके समरभूमिमें भीमसेनको बींध डाला और कहा--'खड़ा रह, खड़ा रह”
sa sandhāya śarāṁs tīkṣṇān karmāra-parimārjitān | bhīmaṁ vivyādha samare tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti cābravīt ||
स भीमस्य पराक्रमं न सहमानः शल्यो राजा तीक्ष्णान् कर्मारपरिमार्जितान् शरान् संधाय समरे भीमं विव्याध। ततः स तमाह— “तिष्ठ तिष्ठ” इति।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the warrior ethos in epic warfare: prowess provokes counteraction, and psychological tactics (taunts like “Stand! Stand!”) accompany physical force. Ethically, it reflects kṣatriya-dharma where courage, endurance, and steadfastness are tested under provocation.
Sañjaya reports that Śalya, unable to bear Bhīma’s display of strength, shoots him with sharp, well-polished arrows in the midst of battle and challenges him verbally, urging him to stop and face him.