Shloka 36
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
घातयिष्यामि गाड़ेयमिति लोकस्य संनिधौ | परिरक्ष्यमिदं तावद् वच: पार्थस्य धीमत:
ghātayiṣyāmi gāḍeyam iti lokasya saṃnidhau | parirakṣyam idaṃ tāvad vacaḥ pārthasya dhīmataḥ ||
उसने लोकसमक्ष कहा था—‘मैं गाङ्गेय (भीष्म) का वध कराऊँगा।’ अतः अभी के लिये बुद्धिमान् पार्थ के इस वचन की रक्षा करके इसे पूर्ण करना चाहिए।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A publicly given pledge (vacaḥ) binds the speaker ethically; in a dharma-centered narrative, preserving truthfulness and honor becomes an immediate duty, even amid the moral complexity of war.
Sañjaya recalls Arjuna’s public declaration that he would bring about Bhīṣma’s death; the statement frames the next actions as aimed at upholding Arjuna’s vow and reputation before the wider world.