Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 18
भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः
Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead
अर्जुन रभसं युद्धे पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम् । भीष्मप्रेप्सु महाराज भासयन्तं दिशो दश
arjuna rabhasaṁ yuddhe puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam | bhīṣmaprepsu mahārāja bhāsayantaṁ diśo daśa ||
Sañjaya dit : Ô roi, Arjuna, dans la chaleur du combat, plaça Śikhaṇḍin en avant et s’avança avec l’intention d’atteindre Bhīṣma ; son assaut fit flamboyer les dix directions. Ainsi se dévoile la sombre stratégie de la guerre : même un guerrier juste doit recourir à des moyens tactiques pour affronter un ancien presque invincible.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between dharma and battlefield necessity: even a righteous warrior may adopt a tactical arrangement (placing Śikhaṇḍin ahead) to confront a formidable elder like Bhīṣma, showing how duty in war can demand difficult, morally weighty choices.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Arjuna, with great force, advances in battle while keeping Śikhaṇḍin in the forefront, aiming to close in on Bhīṣma; Arjuna’s assault is described as so intense that it seems to light up all directions.