Shloka 5
Bhagadattā’s Deployment Against Ghaṭotkaca; Elephant-Corps Escalation
स तेषां रथिनां वीरो भीष्म: शान्तनवो युधि । चिच्छेद सहसा राजन् बाहूनथ शिरांसि च,राजन! वीर शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म उस युद्धके मैदानमें सहसा उन रथियोंकी भुजाओं और मस्तकोंको काट-काटकर गिराने लगे
sa teṣāṁ rathināṁ vīro bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo yudhi | ciccheda sahasā rājan bāhūn atha śirāṁsi ca ||
રાજન! યુદ્ધમાં વીર શાંતનુનંદન ભીષ્મે અચાનક તે રથીઓના હાથ અને માથાં પણ કાપી નાખ્યાં।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the grim reality of kṣatriya warfare: once battle is joined, duty and martial skill drive relentless action. It implicitly contrasts the ideal of dharma with the harsh means by which warriors pursue victory, highlighting the ethical tension between obligation and compassion.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, fighting on the Kaurava side, suddenly attacks the opposing chariot-warriors with overwhelming force, severing their arms and heads—depicting Bhīṣma’s dominance and the escalating ferocity of the Kurukṣetra war.