Shloka 893
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
गदां जग्राह संहृष्टो भीष्मस्य निधन प्रति । अपनी शक्तिको इस प्रकार विफल हुई देख विराटपुत्र श्वेत क्रोधसे मूर्च्छित हो गये। कालने उनकी विवेक-शक्तिको नष्ट कर दिया था; अतः उन्हें अपने कर्तव्यका भान न रहा। उन्होंने हर्षसे उत्साहित हो हँसते-हँसते भीष्मको मार डालनेके लिये हाथमें गदा उठा ली
gadāṃ jagrāha saṃhṛṣṭo bhīṣmasya nidhanaṃ prati |
Sanjaya said: Exultant, he seized a mace, intent on Bhishma’s death. Seeing his own power thwarted, Śveta, the son of Virāṭa, was overcome by wrath and faintness; Time had eclipsed his discernment, and so he no longer recognized the bounds of duty. Inflamed with reckless joy, laughing as he went, he lifted the mace in his hand to strike Bhishma down.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how krodha (anger) and kāla (the pressure of fate/time) can eclipse viveka (discernment), causing a warrior to forget kartavya (duty). Even in a just struggle, ethical clarity can be lost when one is driven by rage and triumphal excitement.
Sañjaya narrates that Śveta, Virāṭa’s son, seeing his efforts frustrated, becomes enraged and mentally overwhelmed. In that state he exultantly takes up a mace, laughing, with the intention of killing Bhīṣma.