Shloka 73
तथा चिन्तयतस्तस्य भूय एव पितामह:ः । प्रेषयामास संक़ुद्ध: शरान् पार्थरथं प्रति,भगवान् श्रीकृष्णके इस प्रकार चिन्तन करते समय अत्यन्त कुपित हुए पितामह भीष्मने अर्जुनके रथपर पुनः बहुत-से बाण चलाये
tathā cintayatas tasya bhūya eva pitāmahaḥ | preṣayāmāsa saṅkruddhaḥ śarān pārtharathaṃ prati ||
Sañjaya said: While Śrī Kṛṣṇa was reflecting thus, the grandsire Bhīṣma—again and again, now inflamed with wrath—shot many arrows toward Arjuna’s chariot. The scene shows how, in the heat of a dharmic war, even venerable elders may unleash fierce force when they deem it required by their side’s duty, tightening the moral pressure upon Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of dharma-yuddha: even a revered elder like Bhīṣma may act with fierce intensity when bound by allegiance and warrior-duty, thereby testing the restraint, judgment, and moral resolve of leaders like Kṛṣṇa and fighters like Arjuna.
As Kṛṣṇa is contemplating (as indicated by the context), Bhīṣma becomes highly angered and again showers Arjuna’s chariot with many arrows, escalating the battle’s pressure and danger around Arjuna.