Shloka 116
दशभिर्दशभिभ्भीष्ममर्दयामासुरोजसा | तब उन महारथी वीरोंने भीष्मके उन तीखे बाणोंका निवारण करके पुनः दस-दस बाणोंद्वारा भीष्मको बलपूर्वक पीड़ित किया
sañjaya uvāca |
daśabhir daśabhir bhīṣmam ardayāmāsur ojasā |
tataḥ te mahārathā vīrā bhīṣmasya tān tīkṣṇān bāṇān nivārya punaḥ daśa-daśa-bāṇaiḥ bhīṣmam balapūrvakaṃ pīḍitavantaḥ |
pāṇḍavāś ca jayaṃ labdhvā paratra ca parāṃ gatim |
sarve dadhmur mahāśaṅkhān śūrāḥ parighabāhavaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: „Mit je zehn Pfeilen bedrängten sie Bhīṣma mit Macht. Dann hielten jene Helden, die großen Wagenkämpfer, Bhīṣmas scharfe Geschosse auf und quälten ihn abermals mit Wucht, indem sie erneut Salven von je zehn Pfeilen abschossen. Und die Krieger der Pāṇḍavas — nachdem sie in dieser Welt den Sieg errungen und (nach) dem höchsten Ziel im Jenseits (gestrebt) hatten — bliesen ihre großen Muschelhörner, jene Helden mit Armen wie eiserne Keulen.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kshatriya ethos: steadfast courage under danger, disciplined counteraction (warding off arrows), and the belief that righteous valor can lead to honor in this world and a ‘higher destiny’ (parā gati) beyond it. It frames battlefield action within an ethical horizon—victory and the afterlife are both invoked as meaningful ends.
Sanjaya describes elite warriors striking Bhishma with coordinated volleys of ten arrows each. After blocking Bhishma’s sharp arrows, they renew the assault. The Pandava side, exulting in success and invoking the ideal of a higher posthumous goal, then blows their great conches as a martial signal and proclamation of spirit.