Shloka 17
समुदग्रध्वजान् दृष्टवा कपान् सर्वे द्विजातय: । व्यसृजन् ज्वलितानग्नीन् कपानां प्राणनाशनान्,उनकी ऊँची ध्वजाएँ फहरा रही थीं। कपोंको आक्रमण करते देख सभी ब्राह्मण उन कपोंपर प्रज्वलित एवं प्राणनाशक अग्निका प्रहार करने लगे
samudragadhvajān dṛṣṭvā kapān sarve dvijātayaḥ | vyasṛjan jvalitān agnīn kapānāṃ prāṇanāśanān |
Bhishma said: Seeing the monkeys with lofty banners, all the twice-born (the brahmins) hurled blazing fires—deadly flames meant to destroy the monkeys’ lives.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: those expected to embody restraint (dvijas/brāhmaṇas) can be provoked into lethal violence. It invites reflection on when force is considered justified and how anger or fear can eclipse ethical vows.
After seeing the monkeys advancing with high banners, the dvijas respond by casting blazing, deadly fire at them, intending to kill or drive them off.