Shloka 44
भीष्मवधोपाय-प्रश्नः (Inquiry into the means to overcome Bhīṣma) | Chapter 103
सो&तिविद्धो महाराज मुहूर्तमथ मारिष । प्रविवेश तमो दीर्घ पीडितस्तैर्महारथै:,महाराज! उन महारथियोंके बाणोंसे अत्यन्त आहत और पीड़ित हो अलम्बुष दो घड़ीतक भारी मोह (मूर्च्छा)-में डूबा रहा
so ’tividdho mahārāja muhūrtam atha māriṣa | praviveśa tamo dīrghaṃ pīḍitas tair mahārathaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja, apabila Alambuṣa dipanah bertubi-tubi oleh anak panah para pahlawan kereta perang agung itu dan diseksa dengan amat berat, dia tenggelam seketika ke dalam kegelapan yang pekat—dikuasai kebingungan dan hilang sedar. Peristiwa ini memperlihatkan bahawa dalam perang, bahkan yang termasyhur pun dapat dijatuhkan oleh sakit dan kejutan, dan batas tubuh memutuskan keangkuhan serta keperkasaan.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the fragility of the human body amid warfare: even celebrated warriors can be overwhelmed by pain and shock. It implicitly cautions against arrogance in power and reminds the listener that martial glory is inseparable from suffering and bodily limitation.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Alambuṣa, struck repeatedly by the arrows of powerful warriors, becomes severely afflicted and falls into a dark stupor—effectively fainting for a short time on the battlefield.