Shloka 27
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
तत्राद्भुतमपश्याम वृद्धयोश्चरितं महत् । यद् द्रौणिसायकान् घोरान् प्रत्यवारयतां युधि
tatrādbhutam apaśyāma vṛddhayoś caritaṃ mahat | yad droṇisāyakān ghorān pratyavārayatāṃ yudhi, rājan |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, di sana kami menyaksikan suatu keajaiban dan keberanian besar dari kedua raja yang telah lanjut usia itu: di tengah pertempuran mereka terus-menerus menangkis anak panah mengerikan yang dilepaskan putra Droṇa (Aśvatthāmā).”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in the devastation of war, the epic highlights disciplined prowess and steadfastness: age does not negate duty or courage, and true martial excellence includes the capacity to restrain and neutralize violence rather than merely unleash it.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that he saw an extraordinary spectacle: two elderly kings on the battlefield repeatedly warding off the terrifying arrows launched by Aśvatthāmā, demonstrating remarkable skill and endurance.