Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion
Bṛhannadā/Arjuna
निमेषान्तरमात्रेण भीष्मो<न्यत् कार्मुकं रणे । समादाय महाबाहु: सज्यं चक्रे महारथ: । शरांश्व सुबहून् क्रुद्धो मुमोचाशु धनंजये,किंतु विशाल भुजाओंवाले महारथी भीष्मने पलक मारते-मारते उस युद्धमें दूसरा धनुष ले उसपर प्रत्यंचा चढ़ा दी और क्रोधमें भरकर धनंजयपर बहुत-से बाणोंका प्रहार किया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | nimeṣāntaramātreṇa bhīṣmo 'nyat kārmukaṃ raṇe | samādāya mahābāhuḥ sajyaṃ cakre mahārathaḥ | śarāṃś ca bahūn kruddho mumocāśu dhanañjaye ||
毗湿摩波罗衍那说道:只在一瞬如眨眼之间,臂力雄伟、身为大车战士的毗湿摩便在战场上另取一张弓,迅速上弦。随即怒火炽盛,他疾射无数利箭,直取檀那阇耶(阿周那)。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights two intertwined lessons: (1) the ideal of preparedness and mastery expected of a kṣatriya—swiftly recovering and continuing one’s duty in battle; and (2) the ethical warning that anger (krodha) can drive excessive aggression, intensifying harm even when one acts within the framework of wartime duty.
During combat, Bhīṣma immediately replaces his bow, strings it in an instant, and—angered—rapidly shoots a large volley of arrows at Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), showing both his formidable skill and the heightened ferocity of the encounter.