Shloka 109
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
प्रत्यविध्यत तान् सर्वान् पिता देवव्रतस्तव । यतमानान् महेष्वासांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिद्यागैः
pratyavidhyata tān sarvān pitā devavratas tava | yatamānān maheṣvāsāṁs tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ ||
قال سانجيا: عندئذٍ ردَّ ديفافراتا (بهیشما)، وهو لك بمنزلة الأب، على أولئك الرماة العظام جميعًا وهم يجاهدون في القتال، فثقب كلَّ واحدٍ منهم بثلاثة سهامٍ مستقيمة الطيران—مُسدِّدًا لهم جزاء هجومهم بقوةٍ منضبطةٍ موزونة.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action in accordance with kṣatriya-duty: even in retaliation, Bhīṣma’s response is controlled and precise—an ethical ideal of measured force rather than uncontrolled rage.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), acting as the Kaurava commander, counters the attacking great archers by piercing each with three straight-flying arrows, thereby answering their effort on the battlefield.