Mahabharata 6.116.16 — Bhishma Parva, Adhyaya 116, Shloka 16
भीष्मस्य जलप्रार्थना — अर्जुनस्य पर्जन्यास्त्रप्रयोगः — दुर्योधनं प्रति सन्ध्युपदेशः
Bhīṣma’s request for water; Arjuna’s Parjanya-astra; counsel to Duryodhana on reconciliation
हताश्चात् तु रथात् तूर्णमवप्लुत्य महारथ: । शरांक्षिक्षेप निशितान् भीमसेनस्य संयुगे,तब उस अश्वहीन रथसे तुरंत ही कूदकर महारथी जयद्रथने युद्धस्थलमें भीमसेनके ऊपर बहुत-से तीखे बाण चलाये
hatāś cāt tu rathāt tūrṇam avaplutya mahārathaḥ | śarān kṣipepa niśitān bhīmasenasya saṃyuge ||
அப்போது மனம் தளர்ந்த அந்த மகாரதன் தன் ரதத்திலிருந்து விரைந்து குதித்து, போர்க்களத்தில் பீமசேனன் மீது பல கூரிய அம்புகளை எய்தான்।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the psychological and ethical pressure of war: when a warrior’s position collapses, he may still act with speed and determination, but such action—born of despair—also signals how conflict drives combatants toward harsher, more relentless violence.
Sañjaya reports that a great warrior, overcome with despondency, quickly jumps down from his chariot and shoots sharp arrows at Bhīmasena amid the battle.
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