Shloka 426
भिद्यमान: शितैर्बाणै: सर्वावरणभेदिभि: । देवताओंकी वह बात सुनकर महातपस्वी शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म समस्त आवरणोंका भेदन करनेवाले तीखे बाणोंद्वारा विदीर्ण होनेपर भी अर्जुनको जीतनेका प्रयत्न न कर सके
sañjaya uvāca | bhidyamānaḥ śitair bāṇaiḥ sarvāvaraṇa-bhedibhiḥ | devatānāṃ tāṃ vācaṃ śrutvā mahātapāsvī śāntanunandano bhīṣmaḥ samastāvaraṇānāṃ bhedana-karaṇaiḥ tīkṣṇa-bāṇair vidīryamāṇo 'pi arjunaṃ jetuṃ prayatnaṃ na cakāra |
サञ्जयは語った。あらゆる鎧をも貫く鋭い矢に裂かれながらも、シャンタヌの子にして大苦行者たるビーシュマは、神々の言葉を聞くや、その時でさえアルジュナを打ち破ろうとはしなかった。戦場のただ中で彼が受け入れたのは、より高き自制である――天の定めへの畏敬と、正しき行いの限界が、いかなる代価を払ってでも勝たんとする衝動に勝ったのである。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, victory is not the highest good; dharma includes restraint and obedience to a higher moral/divine order. Bhishma’s refusal to press for Arjuna’s defeat, despite suffering, highlights ethical limits on violence and the primacy of righteous conduct over personal or factional triumph.
During the Kurukshetra battle, Bhishma is being grievously wounded by Arjuna’s sharp, armor-piercing arrows. After hearing a directive or message attributed to the gods, Bhishma refrains from making a decisive attempt to conquer Arjuna.