Shloka 40
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
धृष्टय्युम्नं तथा5<यान्तं भीष्मस्य वधकाड्क्षिणम् । हार्दिक्यो वारयामास रथश्रेष्ठं महारथ:,इसी प्रकार भीष्मके वधकी इच्छासे आते हुए रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ धृष्टद्युम्नको महारथी कृतवर्माने रोक दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tathāyāntaṃ bhīṣmasya vadhakāṅkṣiṇam |
hārdikyo vārayāmāsa rathaśreṣṭhaṃ mahārathaḥ ||
Demikian pula, ketika Dhṛṣṭadyumna—yang terbaik di antara para kesatria kereta—maju dengan hasrat membunuh Bhīṣma, Kṛtavarmā sang mahāratha, yang dikenal sebagai Hārdikya, menghadangnya dan menahan lajunya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the wartime ethic of steadfast loyalty and timely intervention: a warrior’s prowess is shown not only in attack but also in preventing a decisive threat to one’s side. It also reflects the moral tension of targeting a revered elder like Bhīṣma, treated as a strategic and dharmic turning point by both armies.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna advances with the aim of killing Bhīṣma. Kṛtavarmā (Hārdikya), a leading Kaurava ally, blocks and restrains him, preventing Dhṛṣṭadyumna from reaching Bhīṣma at that moment.