Shloka 54
परिखा खन््यतामत्र ममावसदने नृपा: । उपासिष्ये विवस्वन्तमेवं शरशताचित:,“राजाओ! मेरे इस स्थानके चारों ओर खाई खोद दो। मैं यहीं इसी प्रकार सैकड़ों बाणोंसे व्याप्त शरीरके द्वारा भगवान् सूर्यकी उपासना करूँगा
parikhā khanyatām atra mamāvasadane nṛpāḥ | upāsiṣye vivasvantam evaṁ śaraśatācitaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: “O kings, dig a trench here around the place where I lie. Remaining here, my body pierced and heaped with hundreds of arrows, I shall worship Vivasvat, the Sun.” The statement highlights Bhishma’s disciplined endurance on the battlefield and his resolve to turn suffering into a vow of devotion and self-mastery rather than complaint or fear.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid extreme pain and the chaos of war, one can uphold inner discipline and redirect suffering into purposeful devotion; steadfastness (dhṛti) and reverence for the divine become a form of ethical strength rather than mere endurance.
After Bhishma has fallen and lies immobilized, pierced by many arrows, instructions are given to dig a protective trench around his resting place; he declares his intention to remain there and worship the Sun (Vivasvat) despite his condition.