Shloka 70
खडगं चान्यतरप्रेप्सु्मुत्योरग्रे जयाय वा । भरतनन्दन! समस्त कौरव वीरोंके देखते-देखते गंगानन्दन भीष्मने मृत्यु अथवा विजय इन दोमेंसे किसी एकका वरण करनेके लिये अपने हाथमें सुवर्णभूषित ढाल और तलवार ले ली || ६९ ह || तस्य तच्छतथा चर्म व्यधमत् सायकैस्तथा
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraprepsur mṛtyor agre jayāya vā | bharatanandana samasta-kaurava-vīrāṇāṃ dṛśyate-dṛśyate gaṅgānandano bhīṣmo mṛtyuṃ vā jayaṃ vā—anayoḥ anyataraṃ varaṇāya—svahaste suvarṇabhūṣitaṃ carma ca khaḍgaṃ ca jagrāha | tasya tac chvetatathā carma vyadhamat sāyakais tathā ||
Sañjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, before the eyes of all the Kaurava heroes, Bhīṣma, the son of the Gaṅgā, took up in his own hand a sword and a shield adorned with gold—choosing, as it were, one of two outcomes: death in the forefront or victory. Then that very shield of his was struck and battered by arrows as well.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: steadfast resolve in righteous combat, where a warrior accepts the two legitimate outcomes—victory or death—without clinging to personal safety. Bhīṣma’s readiness to face either outcome models disciplined courage and duty-bound action.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma, in full view of the Kaurava heroes, taking up his gold-adorned shield and sword, prepared for either death at the front or victory. Immediately, his shield is assailed and battered by a shower of arrows, indicating the intensity of the engagement.