Shloka 26
भीमसेन-दुर्योधन-समागमः
Bhīmasena–Duryodhana Engagement at Sunset
भरतनन्दन! तदनन्तर एक तीखे और पानीदार भल्ल्लसे उन्होंने भीमसेनके धनुषके दो टुकड़े कर दिये ।।
sañjaya uvāca |
āpāsya tu dhanuś chinnaṃ bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ |
śaraiḥ bahubhir ānarcched bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ yudhi |
sātyakis tu tatas tūrṇaṃ bhīṣmam āsādya saṃyuge |
ākarṇaprahitaiḥ tīṣṇair niśitaiḥ tigmatejanaiḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O scion of Bharata! After that, with another bhalla arrow—sharp and gleaming—Bhīṣma split Bhīmasena’s bow in two. Casting aside the severed bow, the mighty Bhīmasena took up another and, on the battlefield, rained many arrows upon Bhīṣma, Śāntanu’s son, causing him intense pain. Then Sātyaki swiftly closed with Bhīṣma in the fight and struck him with keen, razor-edged arrows shot to the ear.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kshatriya-dharma in practice: even when disarmed or set back, a warrior committed to duty regains composure, re-arms, and continues the fight with disciplined resolve. It also underscores the ethical tension of war—noble figures like Bhishma can be subjected to severe violence when opposing sides are bound to their respective obligations.
Bhima’s bow is cut; he throws it aside, takes another bow, and showers Bhishma with many arrows on the battlefield. Immediately after, Satyaki rushes in and attacks Bhishma with fully drawn, razor-sharp arrows, intensifying the pressure on Bhishma in the ongoing Kurukshetra combat.