Shloka 60
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
हतो भीष्मो हतो भीष्मस्तत्र तत्र वचो महत् | अश्रूयत महाराज वासुदेवभयात् तदा
sañjaya uvāca | hato bhīṣmo hato bhīṣmas tatra tatra vaco mahat | aśrūyata mahārāja vāsudevabhayāt tadā ||
Sañjaya dit : « Bhīṣma est tombé ! Bhīṣma est tombé ! »—ce grand cri retentit, encore et encore, de tous côtés, ô Roi, en cet instant, né de la crainte de Vāsudeva. Car, dans ce carnage effroyable, le Bienheureux Śrī Kṛṣṇa semblait consumer jusqu’à la conscience même de tes fils et de tes soldats ; et voyant Mādhava s’approcher, résolu à donner la mort à Bhīṣma, l’armée fut saisie de panique, et le tumulte se répandit partout.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how moral and psychological forces shape war: the mere approach of Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva), perceived as an unstoppable divine will aligned with the Pandava cause, breaks the enemy’s confidence. It suggests that adharma and inner fear can collapse an army even before physical defeat, while divine resolve (or the perception of it) becomes a decisive ethical and strategic factor.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that a loud cry—“Bhīṣma is slain!”—is echoing everywhere. The uproar arises because Kṛṣṇa (Mādhava/Vāsudeva) is seen coming close, seemingly intent on Bhīṣma’s death, and the Kaurava side is terrified; the battlefield chaos makes the rumor spread as a great tumult.