Shloka 23
Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
स गाढविद्धो व्यथित: स्यन्दनोपस्थ आविशत् । स निषण्णो रथोपस्थे मूर्च्छामभभिजगाम ह,उस बाणसे अत्यन्त घायल हो भीमसेन व्यथाके मारे रथकी बैठकमें बैठ गये। वहाँ बैठते ही उन्हें मूर्च्छां आ गयी
sa gāḍha-viddho vyathitaḥ syandanopastha āviśat | sa niṣaṇṇo rathopasthe mūrcchām abhijagāma ha ||
Sañjaya said: Struck deeply and wracked with pain, he entered the chariot-seat. Having sat down upon the chariot’s platform, he at once fell into a swoon.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the reality that physical injury and shock can overwhelm even trained warriors; it implicitly highlights the ethical gravity of war, where bodily suffering and the fragility of life are unavoidable consequences of violent action.
A warrior, grievously wounded, climbs into the chariot-seat and, upon sitting, loses consciousness and faints on the chariot platform, as Sañjaya reports the battlefield events.