Shloka 31
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
छित्त्वानदत् पाण्डुसुतस्य वीरो युधिष्ठटिरस्याजमीढस्य राज्ञ: । आकाशमें खड़े हुए देवताओं तथा रणक्षेत्रमें आये हुए राजाओंने देखा, शिखण्डीके दिव्यास्त्रसे शल्यका अस्त्र विदीर्ण हो रहा है। राजन! महात्मा एवं वीर भीष्म युद्धस्थलमें अजमीढ़कुलनन्दन पाण्बुपुत्र राजा युधिष्ठिरके विचित्र धनुष और ध्वजको काटकर गर्जना करने लगे ।। ३० है ।। ततः समुत्सृज्य धनु: सबाणं युधिष्ठिरं वीक्ष्य भयाभिभूतम्
chittvān adat pāṇḍusutasya vīro yudhiṣṭhirasya ājamīḍhasya rājñaḥ | ākāśe tiṣṭhadbhiḥ devataiḥ raṇakṣetre samāgatābhiḥ ca rājabhiḥ dṛṣṭam—śikhaṇḍinaḥ divyāstreṇa śalyasya astram vidīryamāṇam | rājan, mahātmā ca vīraḥ bhīṣmaḥ yuddhasthale ājamīḍhakulanandanaṃ pāṇḍuputraṃ rājānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram uddiśya tasya vicitraṃ dhanuḥ dhvajaṃ ca chittvā garjanam akarot ||
Sañjaya said: The hero cut down the bow and banner of King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu and descendant of Ājamīḍha. The gods standing in the sky and the kings gathered on the battlefield witnessed Śalya’s weapon being shattered by Śikhaṇḍī’s divine missile. O King, the great-souled and valiant Bhīṣma, having severed Yudhiṣṭhira’s splendid bow and standard in the midst of battle, roared aloud—displaying the terrible momentum of war even against one renowned for righteousness.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the most righteous figures are drawn into the harsh duties of kṣatriya-dharma during war; prowess and intimidation (cutting the bow and banner, roaring) function as instruments of battlefield strategy, while the presence of divine weapons underscores that human effort operates amid larger, fate-laden forces.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma severs Yudhiṣṭhira’s bow and standard and roars in triumph. Simultaneously, observers—gods above and kings on the field—see Śalya’s weapon being shattered by Śikhaṇḍī’s divine missile, highlighting the intensity and supernatural dimension of the combat.