Shloka 37
भीष्म–रामजामदग्न्ययुद्धप्रस्थानवर्णनम्
Bhishma’s Account of Parashurama’s Challenge and the March to Kurukshetra
कौरवनरेश! उस समय परशुरामजीने अत्यन्त क्रुद्ध होकर मेरे ऊपर तुरंत ही दस हजार, लाख, दस लाख, अर्बुद, खर्ब और निखर्ब बाणोंका प्रहार किया ।।
tato 'haṃ tān api raṇe śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ | saṃchिद्य bhūmau nṛpate pātayeyam nagān iva ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ô roi des Kaurava ! Alors Paraśurāma, dans une colère extrême, me frappa aussitôt d’une grêle de flèches—dix mille, cent mille, un million, arbuda, kharbha et nikhārbha. Puis, ô souverain, sur le champ de bataille, avec mes propres traits—terribles comme des serpents venimeux—je tranchai toutes ces flèches et les fis tomber à terre comme des arbres abattus.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid extreme provocation and overwhelming force, a warrior is expected to maintain steadiness and disciplined skill; the verse highlights composure and competence as part of kshatriya-dharma rather than uncontrolled rage.
During the Bhishma–Parashurama confrontation, Parashurama releases a massive barrage of arrows; Bhishma counters by cutting those arrows mid-flight with his own, bringing them down to the ground like felled trees.