Shloka 34
न शक्तः संयुगे हन्तुं साक्षादपि शतक्रतुः । स्वच्छन्दतस्तव सुतो गत: स्वर्ग शुभानने,'शुभानने! तुम्हारे पुत्र कुरुश्रेष्ठ भीष्म जब हाथमें धनुष-बाण लिये रहते, उस समय साक्षात् इन्द्र भी उन्हें युद्धमें मार नहीं सकते थे। ये तो अपनी इच्छासे ही शरीर त्यागकर स्वर्गलोकमें गये हैं
na śaktaḥ saṃyuge hantuṃ sākṣād api śatakratuḥ | svacchandatas tava suto gataḥ svarga śubhānane ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Bahkan Śatakratu (Indra) sendiri tidak akan mampu membunuh puteramu dalam pertempuran terbuka. Dengan kehendaknya yang bebas, dia melepaskan jasadnya dan telah pergi ke syurga, wahai yang berwajah elok.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the extraordinary merit and martial invincibility of the hero, while framing his death as voluntary and dharmic rather than as a defeat. It offers ethical consolation: true greatness is not measured by being slain, but by self-mastery and a righteous end leading to Svarga.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reassures the grieving addressee that her son was not overcome by an enemy; even Indra could not have killed him in battle. He chose to give up his body of his own will and attained heaven.