Shloka 18
युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya
ततो विस्फार्य सुमहच्चापं हेमपरिष्कृतम् । समाधत्त शितं बाणं गिरीणामपि दारणम्,तदनन्तर उन्होंने अपने सुवर्णभूषित विशाल धनुषको फैलाकर उसपर पर्वतोंको भी विदीर्ण कर देनेवाले तीखे बाणका संधान किया
tato visphārya sumahac cāpaṃ hemapariṣkṛtam | samādhatta śitaṃ bāṇaṃ girīṇām api dāraṇam ||
Sañjaya nói: Rồi ngài giương rộng cây cung rất lớn, được nạm vàng, và đặt lên đó một mũi tên sắc bén—mũi tên được truyền rằng có thể xé toạc cả núi non.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights intentionality in action: the warrior does not act impulsively but prepares with focus and skill. Ethically, it points to the gravity of choosing violence—once disciplined power is directed toward harm, consequences become immense, symbolized by an arrow that could ‘split mountains’.
Sañjaya describes a combatant drawing a massive, gold-adorned bow and fitting a sharp, extraordinarily powerful arrow to it, signaling an imminent, intensified strike in the battle.