Shloka 15
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
अकरोत् स महाबाहु: सर्वशस्त्रभूतां वर: । ध्वजाएँ काटकर उन्होंने रथसमूहोंको मुण्डित ताल-वनोंके समान कर दिया। राजन! युद्धस्थलमें समस्त शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ महाबाहु भीष्मने बहुत-से रथों, हाथियों और घोड़ोंको मनुष्योंसे रहित कर दिया ।।
sañjaya uvāca | akarot sa mahābāhuḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | dhvajāṃś ca chittvā rathasaṃghān muṇḍitān tālavanopamān akarot | rājann yuddhasthale samastaśastradhāriṇāṃ śreṣṭho mahābāhur bhīṣmo bahūn rathān hastinaś ca hayāṃś ca manuṣyair rahitān cakāra || tasya jyātalanirghoṣaṃ visphūrjitam ivāśaneḥ | śrutvā taṃ sarvabhūtāni kampante bhārata | bhīṣmasya bāṇā na kadācit riktaṃ yānti ||
サञ्जयは語った。――武器を執る者のうち最勝にして、剛腕のビ―シュマは、軍旗を斬り落とし、戦車の群れを、頂を刈り払われたパルミラ椰子の林のように見せた。王よ、戦場においてその大いなる腕の英雄――武装の戦士の中の第一人者――は、多くの戦車と象と馬を、乗り手なきものとして残した。彼の弓弦の鳴りは稲妻の雷鳴のごとく轟き、それを聞けば万の生きものが震えた、バーラタよ。ビ―シュマの矢は、ひとたび放たれれば決して虚しくはならなかった。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the awe-inspiring force of a great warrior and the grave consequences of war: skill and power, when aligned with kṣatriya-duty, can still generate fear and widespread suffering—reminding the listener that martial excellence carries ethical weight and responsibility.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma is dominating the battlefield—cutting down chariot standards, disabling many chariots, elephants, and horses by removing their riders, and terrifying all beings with the thunder-like twang of his bow; his arrows consistently strike their targets.