Shloka 22
ते निवृत्ताश्न भग्नाश्न दृष्टवा तल्लाघवं मम । (प्रणिपेतुश्न सर्वे वै प्रशशंसुश्न पार्थिवा: । तत आदाय ता: कन्या नृपतींश्व विसृज्य तान् ॥। ) अथाहं हास्तिनपुरमायां जित्वा महीक्षित:,मेरे हाथोंकी वह फुर्ती देखकर वे पीछे हटने और भागने लगे। वे सब भूपाल नतमस्तक हो गये और मेरी प्रशंसा करने लगे। तत्पश्चात् मैं राजाओंको परास्त करके उन सबको वहीं छोड़ तीनों कन्याओंको साथ ले हस्तिनापुरमें आया
te nivṛttāś ca bhagnāś ca dṛṣṭvā tal-lāghavaṁ mama | praṇipetuś ca sarve vai praśaśaṁsuś ca pārthivāḥ || tata ādāya tāḥ kanyā nṛpatīṁś ca visṛjya tān | athāhaṁ hāstinapuraṁ āyāṁ jitvā mahīkṣitaḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “Seeing my swiftness and prowess, they recoiled, broke ranks, and fled. All those kings bowed before me and praised me. Thereafter, having subdued the rulers and leaving them there, I took the maidens with me and returned to Hastinapura as the victor.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sheer martial prowess can compel submission, yet it also invites ethical reflection: actions performed under the banner of dynastic or kṣatriya duty can carry moral consequences, especially when power is exercised over others’ autonomy.
Bhishma describes routing the assembled kings, who then bow and praise him. After defeating them, he takes the princesses and returns to Hastinapura, presenting the outcome as a victorious completion of his mission.