Shloka 9
Duryodhana’s Anxiety, Bhīṣma’s Reassurance, and Renewed Mobilization (दुर्योधनचिन्ता–भीष्मप्रत्याश्वासन–सेनानिर्गमनम्)
जीवितान्तकरान् घोरान् समादत्त शिलीमुखान् | तैस्तूर्ण समरे<विध्यद् द्रौणिं बलवतां वर:
sañjaya uvāca | jīvitāntakarān ghorān samādatta śilīmukhān | tais tūrṇaṃ samare ’vidhyad drauṇiṃ balavatāṃ varaḥ |
سنجے نے کہا—ہولناک، جان لینے والے شِلی مُکھ تیر اٹھا کر، زورآوروں میں افضل گاندیو بردار ارجن نے میدانِ جنگ میں فوراً درون کے بیٹے اشوتھاما کو زخمی کر دیا۔
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the severe moral pressure of battlefield duty: when confronted by a dangerous foe, a warrior may be compelled to use deadly means, yet the action is framed as swift, purposeful execution of kṣatriya responsibility rather than cruelty for its own sake.
Sañjaya narrates that Arjuna, choosing fearsome, lethal arrows, quickly wounds Droṇa’s son Aśvatthāmā in the midst of battle.