Shloka 71
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
प्राद्रवन्ति रणे दृष्टवा हर्षयन्त: पितामहम् । सो5हं भीष्म निहन्म्यद्य पाण्डवार्थाय दंशित:,महात्मा पाए्डुपुत्र युधिष्ठिरकी यह विशाल सेना भागी जा रही है और ये कौरवलोग रणक्षेत्रमें सोमकोंको शीघ्रतापूर्वक भागते देख पितामहका हर्ष बढ़ाते हुए उन्हें खदेड़ रहे हैं; अतः आज पाण्डवोंके लिये कवच धारण किया हुआ मैं स्वयं ही भीष्मको मारे डालता हूँ
sañjaya uvāca | prādravanti raṇe dṛṣṭvā harṣayantaḥ pitāmaham | so ’haṃ bhīṣma nihany adya pāṇḍavārthāya daṃśitaḥ ||
ৰণত তেওঁলোকক দেখি সিহঁতে দৌৰি আহি পিতামহ ভীষ্মক হৰ্ষিত কৰে। সেয়ে পাণ্ডৱৰ হিতাৰ্থে, বর্মধাৰী আৰু দৃঢ়সংকল্পী মই আজি নিজেই ভীষ্মক বধ কৰিম।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of decisive action in war when one believes a higher cause is at stake: personal hesitation is set aside, and the speaker frames even the extreme act of killing a revered elder (Bhīṣma) as justified ‘for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas.’ It foregrounds the moral strain of dharma in conflict—duty and loyalty colliding with reverence.
Sañjaya reports a battlefield moment where warriors surge forward, their actions increasing Bhīṣma’s exhilaration. In response, a combatant declares a firm intention to kill Bhīṣma that very day, fully armoured and motivated by the Pāṇḍavas’ cause—signaling escalation against the Kaurava commander.