Shloka 24
अविध्यद् दशभिर्भ॑ष्म॑ छिन्नधन्वानमाहवे । सारथिं दशभिश्चास्य ध्वजं चैकेन चिच्छिदे
sañjaya uvāca | avidhyad daśabhir bhīṣmaṃ chinnadhanvān amāhave | sārathiṃ daśabhiś cāsya dhvajaṃ caikena cicchide |
Sañjaya said: In the battle, Śikhaṇḍin struck Bhīṣma—whose bow had been cut—with ten arrows. He also pierced Bhīṣma’s charioteer with ten arrows, and with a single arrow he severed the banner. The scene underscores the ruthless mechanics of war: once a warrior is disarmed, the fight turns into a contest of protection, vulnerability, and tactical advantage, even against a venerable elder like Bhīṣma.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension in warfare: tactical efficiency can override reverence for age and status. It reflects the kṣatriya world where victory depends on exploiting openings (such as a disarmed opponent), while the broader epic invites reflection on the moral cost of such necessity.
Sañjaya reports that Śikhaṇḍin, taking advantage of Bhīṣma’s bow being cut, shoots Bhīṣma with ten arrows, wounds his charioteer with ten more, and then cuts down Bhīṣma’s banner with a single arrow—intensifying the pressure on Bhīṣma in the ongoing battle.