Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion
Bṛhannadā/Arjuna
अथ जिष्णुरुपावृत्य क्षुरधारेण कार्मुकम् । चकर्त भीष्मस्य तदा जातरूपपरिष्कृतम्,तदनन्तर विजयशील अर्जुनने निकट आकर छुरेके समान धारवाले एक बाणसे भीष्मके सुवर्णभूषित धनुषको काट डाला
atha jiṣṇur upāvṛtya kṣuradhāreṇa kārmukam | cakarta bhīṣmasya tadā jātarūpa-pariṣkṛtam ||
अथ जिष्णुरुपावृत्य क्षुरधारेण कार्मुकम् । चकर्त भीष्मस्य तदा जातरूपपरिष्कृतम् ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma expressed through controlled mastery: a warrior’s excellence lies in precise, purposeful action—disabling an adversary’s weaponry rather than indulging in unnecessary harm.
Arjuna, called Jiṣṇu, approaches and with a razor-edged arrow severs Bhīṣma’s gold-adorned bow, demonstrating superior archery and shifting the balance of the encounter by neutralizing Bhīṣma’s immediate fighting capacity.