Shloka 28
सहस्राणि महाराज राज्ञां भल्लैरपातयत् | तदनन्तर समस्त भूमिपालोंकी सेनाका उच्छेद करके राजा विराटके प्रिय भाई शतानीकको मार गिराया। महाराज! शतानीकको रणक्षेत्रमें मारकर प्रतापी भीष्मने भल्ल नामक बाणोंद्वारा एक हजार नरेशोंको धराशायी कर दिया || २६-२७ $ई ।।
sahasrāṇi mahārāja rājñāṃ bhallair apātayat | udvignāḥ samare yodhā vikrośanti dhanañjayam ||
Sañjaya dijo: «Oh gran rey, con flechas de ancha punta Bhīṣma abatió a miles de reyes. En el fragor del combate, los guerreros, estremecidos de miedo, clamaban por Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). Aquellos soberanos que habían salido del lado de los Pāṇḍava junto a Arjuna, en cuanto se hallaron frente a Bhīṣma, se convirtieron en viajeros del camino hacia el reino de Yama.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how overwhelming martial excellence can reshape the ethical and psychological landscape of war: fear spreads, alliances falter, and even kings become vulnerable. It implicitly underscores the kṣatriya world-view where death in battle is expected, while also showing the human cost—panic and dependence on a champion (Arjuna) when confronted by an unmatched elder-warrior (Bhīṣma).
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, using bhalla arrows, is cutting down large numbers of kings. The battlefield becomes tense; warriors, frightened by Bhīṣma’s onslaught, cry out for Arjuna. Kings fighting on the Pāṇḍava side who come before Bhīṣma are slain, described as going to Yama’s realm.