Shloka 12
Bhīṣma–Jāmadagnya-saṃvādaḥ
Bhishma’s account of the encounter with Rāma Jāmadagnya
निर्मुक्तानां पन्नगानां सरूपा दृष्टवा शक्तीहेंमचित्रा निकृत्ता: । प्रादुश्चक्रे दिव्यमस्त्रं महात्मा क्रोधाविष्टो हैहयेशप्रमाथी
nirmuktānāṁ pannagānāṁ sarūpā dṛṣṭvā śaktī hema-citrā nikṛttāḥ | prāduścakre divyam astraṁ mahātmā krodhāviṣṭo haihayeśa-pramāthī ||
Bhishma said: Seeing the severed, gold-adorned śaktis—shining with varied designs—lying about like snakes that have cast off their skins, the great-souled warrior, inflamed with anger and a crusher of the Haihaya lord, brought forth a divine weapon.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how anger can unleash formidable, even ‘divine’ force in warfare, but implicitly warns that power arising from wrath is ethically dangerous; a dharmic warrior must strive to keep judgment and restraint even amid provocation.
After seeing severed, gold-decorated spears strewn about—likened to snakes’ shed skins—the great warrior (described as a crusher of the Haihaya lord) becomes enraged and brings forth a celestial weapon, escalating the conflict.