Shloka 546
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
स विद्धस्तेन बलवान् नाकम्पत यथाचल: । तब शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने भी दस बाण मारकर बदला चुकाया। उनके द्वारा घायल किये जानेपर भी बलवान श्वेत विचलित नहीं हुआ। वह पर्वतकी भाँति अविचलभावसे खड़ा रहा
sa viddhas tena balavān nākampata yathācalaḥ |
Sanjaya said: Though struck by him, the mighty one did not tremble; like a mountain he remained unmoved. In the heat of battle, Bhīṣma—the son of Śāntanu—answered the injury by shooting ten arrows in return, yet the powerful Śveta, even when wounded, stood firm without wavering.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores steadfastness (dhairya) under suffering: a true warrior does not lose composure when wounded. It also implicitly shows how battlefield ethics often normalize immediate retaliation, revealing the tragic momentum of war.
During the battle, Bhīṣma (son of Śāntanu) retaliates by shooting ten arrows. Despite being struck and wounded, the powerful Śveta does not waver and stands firm like a mountain.