Shloka 116
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
यमदण्डोपमां घोरां चिक्षेप परमाहवे । इस प्रकार अत्यन्त घायल होनेपर महाधनुर्धर भगदत्त अपने मुँहके दोनों कोने चाटने लगे। फिर उन्होंने उस महायुद्धमें कनक और वैदूर्य मणियोंसे विभूषित लोहेकी बनी हुई सुदृढ़ एवं यमदण्डके समान भयंकर शक्ति चलायी
yamadaṇḍopamāṃ ghorāṃ cikṣepa paramāhave | itthaṃ atyanta-ghāte sati mahādhanuḥdharaḥ bhagadattaḥ sva-mukhasya ubhayataḥ koṇau lelihaḥ | tataḥ sa tasmin mahāyuddhe kanaka-vaidūrya-maṇibhiḥ vibhūṣitāṃ loha-mayīṃ sudṛḍhāṃ ca yamadaṇḍa-samāṃ bhīṣaṇāṃ śaktiṃ mumoca |
Sañjaya berkata: Dalam bentrokan tertinggi itu ia melemparkan senjata mengerikan, laksana tongkat hukuman Yama. Walau terluka parah, pemanah agung Bhagadatta menjilat kedua sudut mulutnya—tanda garang bahwa tekadnya tak surut. Lalu, di medan perang besar itu, ia meluncurkan śakti-tombak yang ngeri: ditempa dari besi, amat kokoh, dihias emas dan permata vaidūrya, menakutkan bagaikan gada Yama.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the battlefield intensifies death-consciousness and moral peril: even when gravely wounded, a warrior may cling to wrath and pride, invoking imagery of Yama’s rod to show the nearness of death and the fearful consequences of violence.
Sañjaya describes Bhagadatta, badly injured yet unshaken, making a fierce gesture (licking the corners of his mouth) and then hurling an iron śakti-spear, richly ornamented with gold and vaidūrya gems, likened to Yama’s staff for its terror and lethality.