Shloka 43
तत: शिखण्डी वेगेन प्रगृह् परमायुधम् । भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्राव रक्ष्यमाण: किरीटिना,तब शिखण्डी अपने उत्तम अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंको लेकर बड़े वेगसे भीष्मकी ही ओर दौड़ा। उस समय किरीटधारी अर्जुन उसकी रक्षा कर रहे थे
tataḥ śikhaṇḍī vegena pragṛhya paramāyudham | bhīṣmam evābhidudrāva rakṣyamāṇaḥ kirīṭinā ||
Sañjaya dijo: Entonces Śikhaṇḍī, empuñando sus armas supremas, se lanzó con gran velocidad directamente contra Bhīṣma. Mientras avanzaba, el coronado con diadema, Arjuna, lo protegía—para que el asalto contra el venerable anciano prosiguiera bajo amparo, reflejando el duro cálculo moral de la guerra, donde estrategia y deber se entrelazan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between dharma and battlefield necessity: even revered elders like Bhīṣma are confronted through careful strategy, and a warrior’s duty is carried out with protection and coordination rather than mere personal valor.
Śikhaṇḍī charges directly at Bhīṣma with powerful weapons, while Arjuna (the diadem-crowned) protects Śikhaṇḍī, enabling the focused attack on Bhīṣma during the Kurukṣetra battle.