Shloka 231
तथा शान्तनवो भीष्मो न्यस्तशस्त्रो निरायुध: । शिखण्डिनं पुरस्कृत्य हतो गाण्डीवधन्चना
tathā śāntanavo bhīṣmo nyastaśastro nirāyudhaḥ | śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya hato gāṇḍīvadhanvanā ||
Likewise Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu—having laid aside his weapons and standing unarmed—was slain by the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, with Śikhaṇḍin placed in front. The line underscores how, in the turmoil of war, victory can hinge not only on strength but on strategy that exploits vows, restraints, and moral hesitations.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension in warfare: even the mightiest can fall when bound by vows and moral constraints, and opponents may employ indirect means. It invites reflection on how dharma is tested in war—where strategy can exploit an enemy’s restraint, raising questions about fairness versus necessity.
Kṛpa recalls Bhīṣma’s fall: Bhīṣma, identified as Śāntanu’s son, becomes effectively unarmed (having laid aside weapons), and Arjuna—wielder of the Gāṇḍīva—kills him while Śikhaṇḍin is positioned in front, a tactical arrangement central to Bhīṣma’s death episode.