Shloka 896
सह भीष्मेण सर्वेषां प्रापतन् हृदयानि नः । महाराज! महात्मा पितामह भीष्मको रथसे नीचे गिरते देखकर हम सब लोगोंके हृदय भी उनके साथ ही गिर पड़े
saha bhīṣmeṇa sarveṣāṃ prāpatann hṛdayāni naḥ | mahārāja! mahātmā pitāmaha bhīṣmako rathase nīce girate dekhakara hama saba logoṃke hṛdaya bhī unke sātha hī gira paṛe |
Sañjaya sprach: „O König, als der großherzige Ahn Bhīṣma von seinem Wagen stürzte, war es, als fielen die Herzen von uns allen mit ihm. Als wir den ehrwürdigen Greis im Kampf erniedrigt sahen, brachen Mut und innere Standhaftigkeit in uns zusammen; denn er war die Säule unserer Sache und die Verkörperung der Kriegerpflicht.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the fall of a righteous and formidable elder shakes an entire community: moral authority and leadership sustain collective courage, and when such a pillar is struck down, even strong warriors experience inner collapse. It underscores the human cost of war and the dependence of armies on exemplars of dharma and discipline.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that when Bhīṣma, the revered grandsire of the Kuru line, is seen falling from his chariot in battle, the hearts of the Kaurava side sink with him—signaling a dramatic turning point and widespread despair among those who relied on Bhīṣma’s protection and prowess.