Shloka 31
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
छित्त्वानदत् पाण्डुसुतस्य वीरो युधिष्ठटिरस्याजमीढस्य राज्ञ: । आकाशमें खड़े हुए देवताओं तथा रणक्षेत्रमें आये हुए राजाओंने देखा
chittvān adat pāṇḍusutasya vīro yudhiṣṭhirasya ājamīḍhasya rājñaḥ | ākāśe tiṣṭhadbhiḥ devataiḥ raṇakṣetre samāgatābhiḥ ca rājabhiḥ dṛṣṭam—śikhaṇḍinaḥ divyāstreṇa śalyasya astram vidīryamāṇam | rājan, mahātmā ca vīraḥ bhīṣmaḥ yuddhasthale ājamīḍhakulanandanaṃ pāṇḍuputraṃ rājānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram uddiśya tasya vicitraṃ dhanuḥ dhvajaṃ ca chittvā garjanam akarot ||
Sañjaya dit : Le héros trancha l’arc et l’étendard du roi Yudhiṣṭhira, fils de Pāṇḍu et descendant d’Ājamīḍha. Les dieux dans le ciel et les rois rassemblés sur le champ de bataille virent l’arme de Śalya réduite en éclats par le projectile divin de Śikhaṇḍī. Ô Roi, Bhīṣma, grand d’âme et vaillant, après avoir sectionné au cœur du combat l’arc splendide et le signe royal de Yudhiṣṭhira, poussa un rugissement—manifestant l’effroyable élan de la guerre même contre celui qui est renommé pour sa droiture.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most righteous figures are drawn into the harsh duties of kṣatriya-dharma during war; prowess and intimidation (cutting the bow and banner, roaring) function as instruments of battlefield strategy, while the presence of divine weapons underscores that human effort operates amid larger, fate-laden forces.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma severs Yudhiṣṭhira’s bow and standard and roars in triumph. Simultaneously, observers—gods above and kings on the field—see Śalya’s weapon being shattered by Śikhaṇḍī’s divine missile, highlighting the intensity and supernatural dimension of the combat.