Shloka 15
द्रोणश्न॒ कृतवर्मा च सैन्धवश्न जयद्रथ: । भूरिश्रवा: शल: शल्यो भगदत्तस्तथैव च,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
sañjaya uvāca |
droṇaś ca kṛtavarmā ca saindhavaś ca jayadrathaḥ |
bhūriśravāḥ śalaḥ śalyo bhagadattas tathaiva ca |
atāḍayan raṇe bhīṣmaṃ sahitāḥ sarvasṛñjayāḥ |
Sañjaya said: Drona and Kṛtavarmā, the Sindhu prince Jayadratha, Bhūriśravas, Śala, Śalya, and Bhagadatta as well—joining together with all the Sṛñjaya warriors—assailed Bhīṣma in the battle, striking him from every side. The scene underscores the grim ethic of war: even the most venerable and formidable elder on the field becomes the focus of coordinated violence when victory is pursued above reverence.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of war: strategic necessity can override customary reverence, as even an elder like Bhīṣma becomes a target of coordinated attack. It invites reflection on how dharma becomes complex when duty to one’s side and the pursuit of victory collide with respect for age, kinship, and virtue.
Sañjaya reports that several prominent Kaurava-aligned warriors—Droṇa, Kṛtavarmā, Jayadratha, Bhūriśravas, Śala, Śalya, and Bhagadatta—along with all the Sṛñjaya fighters, strike at Bhīṣma together on the battlefield, surrounding and assailing him from multiple directions.