Shloka 23
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्
The Tumult of Battle Described
प्रदारयन्तं सैन्यानि बलेनामितविक्रमम् । ग्रसमानमनीकानि व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम्,अपने बलसे सेनाको विदीर्ण करनेवाले भीमसेन सम्पूर्ण सैनिकोंको अपना ग्रास बनानेके लिये मुँह बाये हुए कालके समान जान पड़ते थे। उस समय बड़ी भारी गदा उठाये हुए भयंकर पराक्रमी भीमसेनको देखकर भीष्मजी सहसा वहाँ पहुँचे
sañjaya uvāca | pradārayantaṃ sainyāni balenāmitavikramam | grasamānam anīkāni vyāditāsyam ivāntakam |
サンジャヤは言った――抗しがたい力と測り知れぬ武勇をもって、ビーマは軍勢を引き裂いて進んだ。彼は口を大きく開け、戦陣そのものを獲物として呑み込まんとする死神のようであった。その恐るべきビーマが巨大な棍棒を振り上げるのを見て、ビーシュマはただちにそこへ駆けつけ、対峙した。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the terrifying momentum of war and the inevitability of death within it: even great warriors can appear as instruments of 'Antaka' (the End). Ethically, it highlights the Kshatriya arena where duty and destruction coexist, and where senior protectors like Bhishma must respond to unchecked force to uphold their side’s order and responsibility.
Sanjaya describes Bhima rampaging through the Kaurava forces, ripping apart troops and swallowing up formations metaphorically like Death with an open mouth. Seeing Bhima’s fearsome advance and his raised mace, Bhishma quickly comes to that spot to engage and restrain him.