Shloka 14
भीष्मस्य धनुषश्छेदं नामृष्यन्त महारथा:,अताडयन् रणे भीष्मं सहिता: सर्वसृञज्जया: । समस्त सूंजय वीर एक साथ संगठित हो भयंकर शतघ्नी, परिघ, फरसे, मुद्गर, मुसल, प्रास, गोफन, स्वर्णमय पंखवाले बाण, शक्ति, तोमर, कम्पन, नाराच, वत्सदन््त और भुशुण्डी आदि अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंद्वारा रणभूमिमें भीष्मको सब ओरसे पीड़ा देने लगे अभिपेतुर्भुशं क्रुद्धाश्छादयन्तश्न॒ पाण्डवम् | भीष्मके धनुषका काटा जाना कौरव महारथियोंको सहन नहीं हुआ। द्रोण, कृतवर्मा, सिन्धुराज जयद्रथ, भूरिश्रवा, शल, शल्य और भगदत्त--ये सात महारथी अत्यन्त क़ुद्ध हो किरीटधारी अर्जुनकी ओर दौड़े तथा अपने दिव्य अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका प्रदर्शन करते हुए पाण्डुनन्दन अर्जुनको अत्यन्त क्रोधपूर्वक बाणोंसे आच्छादित करने लगे
sañjaya uvāca | bhīṣmasya dhanuṣaś chedaṃ nāmṛṣyanta mahārathāḥ, atāḍayan raṇe bhīṣmaṃ sahitāḥ sarvasṛñjayāḥ | abhipetur bhuśaṃ kruddhāś chādayantaś ca pāṇḍavam ||
Sanjaya said: Unable to endure that Bhishma’s bow had been cut, the great chariot-warriors—joined together with all the Sṛñjayas—assailed Bhishma in the battle. Then, in fierce anger, they rushed forward and, displaying their prowess, showered the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna) with volleys of arrows, seeking to overwhelm him from every side.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical tension in the epic: when honor is wounded (the cutting of Bhishma’s bow), warriors often respond with anger and escalation. It implicitly contrasts disciplined kṣatriya duty with impulsive retaliation, showing how wrath can drive collective violence.
After Bhishma’s bow is cut, elite fighters cannot tolerate the affront. They unite and intensify the battle—assailing Bhishma and then charging in anger to smother the Pāṇḍava hero (understood as Arjuna) with a dense shower of arrows.