Shloka 70
खडगं चान्यतरप्रेप्सु्मुत्योरग्रे जयाय वा । भरतनन्दन! समस्त कौरव वीरोंके देखते-देखते गंगानन्दन भीष्मने मृत्यु अथवा विजय इन दोमेंसे किसी एकका वरण करनेके लिये अपने हाथमें सुवर्णभूषित ढाल और तलवार ले ली || ६९ ह || तस्य तच्छतथा चर्म व्यधमत् सायकैस्तथा
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraprepsur mṛtyor agre jayāya vā | bharatanandana samasta-kaurava-vīrāṇāṃ dṛśyate-dṛśyate gaṅgānandano bhīṣmo mṛtyuṃ vā jayaṃ vā—anayoḥ anyataraṃ varaṇāya—svahaste suvarṇabhūṣitaṃ carma ca khaḍgaṃ ca jagrāha | tasya tac chvetatathā carma vyadhamat sāyakais tathā ||
সঞ্জয় বললেন—হে ভরতনন্দন! সকল কৌরব বীরের চোখের সামনে গঙ্গানন্দন ভীষ্ম যেন দুই পরিণতির একটিকে বেছে নিতে—সম্মুখে মৃত্যু অথবা বিজয়—স্বহস্তে স্বর্ণালংকৃত ঢাল ও খড়্গ ধারণ করলেন; আর সেই ঢালই তীরের আঘাতে বিদ্ধ ও ক্ষতবিক্ষত হল।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: steadfast resolve in righteous combat, where a warrior accepts the two legitimate outcomes—victory or death—without clinging to personal safety. Bhīṣma’s readiness to face either outcome models disciplined courage and duty-bound action.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma, in full view of the Kaurava heroes, taking up his gold-adorned shield and sword, prepared for either death at the front or victory. Immediately, his shield is assailed and battered by a shower of arrows, indicating the intensity of the engagement.