Shloka 106
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
गहने<ग्निरिवोत्सृष्ट: प्रजज्वाल दहन् परान् | राजन! पाण्डवोंने भी पितामह भीष्मको घेर लिया। चारों ओरसे रथसमूहोंद्वारा घिरे हुए अपराजित वीर भीष्म गहन वनमें लगायी हुई आगके समान शत्रुओंको दग्ध करते हुए प्रज्वलित हो उठे,इति श्रीमहाभारते भीष्मपर्वणि भीष्मवधपर्वणि नवमदिवसयुद्धसमाप्तौ षडधिकशततमो<ध्याय:
sañjaya uvāca |
gahane 'gnir ivotsṛṣṭaḥ prajajvāla dahan parān |
rājan! pāṇḍavair api pitāmaha-bhīṣmo gheritaḥ |
caturdiśaṃ ratha-samūhair vṛto 'parājito vīro bhīṣmo gahana-vane lāgnyā iva śatrūn dagdhvā prajvalitaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: “Like a fire kindled in a dense forest, he blazed forth, burning down his foes. O King, the Pāṇḍavas too surrounded Grandfather Bhīṣma. Encircled on all sides by masses of chariots, the unconquered hero Bhīṣma flared up, scorching the enemy—like a wildfire in thick woodland.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames martial excellence within dharma: even when surrounded, a warrior steadfast in his duty can become a force that overwhelms opponents. Yet the fire-in-forest simile also hints at war’s indiscriminate, consuming nature—valor and devastation arise together, urging ethical reflection on the costs of righteous conflict.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas have encircled Bhīṣma with many chariots. Despite being surrounded, Bhīṣma remains undefeated and blazes forth in battle, burning down enemy warriors like a wildfire raging through a dense forest.