Shloka 43
Arjuna–Bhīṣma Strategic Engagement and Mutual Arrow-Interdiction (भीष्मार्जुनसमागमः)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत भीष्मपर्वके अन्तर्गत भीष्मवधपर्वमें भीष्म आदिका समादरविषयक तैतालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
iti prakāraḥ śrīmahābhārate bhīṣmaparvake antargataṃ bhīṣmavadhaparvaṇi bhīṣmādikā samādaraviṣayakaḥ taitālīśat-tamo 'dhyāyaḥ pūrṇaḥ abhavat
Sañjaya said: Thus, within the Bhīṣma Parva of the sacred Mahābhārata, the forty-third chapter—concerning the reverent honoring of Bhīṣma and others—comes to its close, as part of the section dealing with Bhīṣma’s fall. This colophon pauses the war’s tale to underscore the moral weight of reverence toward elders and revered warriors, even amid violent conflict.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the midst of war, dharma requires maintaining reverence and proper regard for venerable figures such as Bhīṣma; the chapter’s stated focus on samādara (honor) highlights ethical restraint and respect amid conflict.
This is a concluding colophon: Sañjaya signals that the forty-third chapter of the Bhīṣma Parva—within the Bhīṣma-vadha section—has ended, summarizing the chapter’s subject as the honoring/respect shown to Bhīṣma and others.