Shloka 39
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
त्रिदशान् वा समुदुक्तान् सहितान् दैत्यदानवै: । निहन्यादर्जुन: संख्ये किमु भीष्मं नराधिप,“नरेश्वर! दैत्यों और दानवोंसहित सम्पूर्ण देवताओंको भी अर्जुन युद्धमें मार सकते हैं; फिर भीष्मको मारना कौन बड़ी बात है
tridaśān vā samuduktān sahitān daityadānavaiḥ | nihanyād arjunaḥ saṅkhye kimu bhīṣmaṃ narādhipa ||
Sañjaya said: “O lord of men, Arjuna could slay in battle even the gods of the three worlds, were they all assembled together with the Daityas and Dānavas. How much more, then, could he bring down Bhīṣma? In this, I mean to show that Arjuna’s prowess is beyond ordinary measure, and that Bhīṣma’s fall—though morally weighty because of his stature and vows—is not impossible in the ethics of war when duty demands it.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the extraordinary capacity of a dharmic warrior: when duty (kṣatriya-dharma) requires action, even the mightiest opponent is not beyond reach. It also frames Bhīṣma’s impending defeat as a matter of possibility and necessity, not mere bravado—power is invoked to support a grim ethical conclusion within the rules of war.
Sañjaya, narrating the Kurukṣetra war to the blind king, emphasizes Arjuna’s battle prowess. By saying Arjuna could even slay the assembled gods along with Daityas and Dānavas, he argues that defeating Bhīṣma—however formidable and revered—is certainly within Arjuna’s capability.