Shloka 4
स विशीर्णतनुत्राण: पीडितो बहुभिस्तदा,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 न विव्यथे तदा भीष्मो भिद्यमानेषु मर्मसु । उस समय बहुसंख्यक योद्धाओंके द्वारा अनेक प्रकारके अस्त्रोंसे पीड़ित होनेके कारण भीष्मका कवच छिउत्न-भिन्न हो गया। उनके मर्मस्थान विदीर्ण होने लगे, तो भी उनके मनमें व्यथा नहीं हुई
sa viśīrṇa-tanutrāṇaḥ pīḍito bahubhis tadā | atāḍayan raṇe bhīṣmaṃ sahitāḥ sarva-sṛñjayāḥ || na vivyathe tadā bhīṣmo bhidyamāneṣu marmaṣu |
Sañjaya said: Then Bhīṣma, his armour shattered and his body pressed hard by many warriors, was struck again and again in battle as all the Sṛñjayas, united together, assailed him. Yet even as his vital points were being pierced and torn by the blows, Bhīṣma did not waver in pain—steadfast in his warrior’s resolve amid the crushing violence of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-fortitude: even when the body is wounded and protection fails, a warrior committed to his vow and duty remains inwardly steady. Ethically, it contrasts external violence with inner composure and resolve.
On the battlefield, the Sṛñjaya forces collectively strike Bhīṣma so fiercely that his armour is broken and his vital points are being hit; nevertheless, Bhīṣma does not show pain or falter, underscoring his formidable presence in the war.