Shloka 19
Gāndhārī’s Battlefield Survey: The Fallen and the Onset of Funeral Rites (शल्य-भगीरथ-भीष्म-द्रोणादि-दर्शनम्)
अतूलपूर्ण गाड़्नेयस्त्रिभि्बाणै: समन्वितम् | उपधायोपधानाग्रयं दत्तं गाण्डीवधन्चना,इन गंगानन्दन भीष्मने रुई भरा हुआ तकिया नहीं लिया है। इन्होंने तो गाण्डीवधारी अर्जुनके दिये हुए तीन बाणोंद्वारा निर्मित श्रेष्ठ उपधान (तकिये)-को ही स्वीकार किया है
atūlapūrṇaṃ gāḍhneyas tribhir bāṇaiḥ samanvitam | upadhāyopadhānāgryaṃ dattaṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvanā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Bhīṣma, putra Gaṅgā, tidak menerima bantal berisi kapas. Sebagai sandaran kepala, ia menerima penopang terbaik yang dibuat dari tiga anak panah, pemberian Arjuna sang pemegang Gāṇḍīva.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in extreme pain, Bhīṣma maintains kṣatriya-austerity and dignity: he refuses soft luxury (a cotton pillow) and accepts a headrest consistent with the warrior context—arrows given by Arjuna—showing restraint, self-mastery, and adherence to dharma.
In the aftermath of the war (Strī Parva context of grief and consequences), Bhīṣma is being attended to. A cotton-stuffed pillow is not taken; instead, a superior headrest made from three arrows—given by Arjuna, wielder of the Gāṇḍīva—is placed for him.