Shloka 8
Virāṭa’s Conciliation and Uttara’s Account of the Unseen Champion
Bṛhannadā/Arjuna
ततो भल्लेन महता पृथुधारेण पाण्डव: । छत्र॑ चिच्छेद भीष्मस्य तूर्ण तदपतद् भुवि,तब पाण्डुकुमारने मोटी धारवाले विशाल भल्लके द्वारा भीष्मका छत्र काट दिया, जिससे वह तुरंत ही पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़ा
tato bhallena mahatā pṛthudhāreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ | chatraṃ ciccheda bhīṣmasya tūrṇaṃ tad apatat bhuvi ||
Then the Pāṇḍava, with a great broad-edged arrow, swiftly cut down Bhīṣma’s parasol; it immediately fell to the ground.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
In epic warfare, victory is not only physical but also symbolic: removing an opponent’s insignia (like a royal parasol) diminishes visible prestige and morale. The verse highlights disciplined martial precision used to assert dominance while targeting symbols rather than the person.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a Pāṇḍava warrior shoots a powerful broad-edged arrow and cleanly cuts Bhīṣma’s parasol, which immediately drops to the ground—an emphatic battlefield gesture of challenge and superiority.