नाकम्पत महाराज क्षितिकम्पे यथाचल: । नरेश्वर! युद्धमें शिखण्डीके द्वारा आहत होकर भी कुरुवंशियोंके पितामह भीष्म उसी प्रकार कम्पित नहीं हुए, जैसे भूकम्प होनेपर भी पर्वत नहीं हिलता || ४४ ह || ततः प्रहस्य बीभत्सुर्व्याक्षिपन् गाण्डिवं धनु:
nākampata mahārāja kṣitikampe yathācalaḥ | nareśvara! yuddhe śikhaṇḍinā āhato 'pi kurūvaṃśīnāṃ pitāmaho bhīṣmaḥ sa tathā na kampitaḥ, yathā bhūkampaḥ sati 'pi parvato na calati || 44 h || tataḥ prahasya bībhatsur vyākṣipan gāṇḍivaṃ dhanuḥ |
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Maharaja! Seperti gunung yang tak bergeming meski bumi berguncang, demikian pula Bhīṣma, pitāmaha para Kuru, tidak goyah sedikit pun walau terkena serangan Śikhaṇḍī di medan perang. Lalu Arjuna, sang Bībhatsu, tersenyum dan segera mengangkat busur Gāṇḍīva.”
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights kṣātra-tejas and dhṛti—steadfast courage under extreme pressure. Bhīṣma’s composure, even when wounded, is presented as an ethical ideal of unwavering resolve in one’s chosen duty, regardless of pain or shifting circumstances.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma, though struck in battle through Śikhaṇḍī, remains unshaken like a mountain in an earthquake. Immediately after, Arjuna (called Bībhatsu) smiles and takes up his bow Gāṇḍīva, signaling the next escalation in the combat.