Shloka 53
भीमसेनस्य बहुमहारथसंयुगः
Bhīmasena’s Engagement with Multiple Mahārathas
(भीष्मो5तीव सुसंक्रुद्ध: पृषत्कैरर्जुनं बलात् । जघान समरे मुर्ध्नि सिंहवद् विनदन् मुहुः ।।
sañjaya uvāca | bhīṣmo 'tīva susaṃkruddhaḥ pṛṣatkair arjunaṃ balāt jaghāna samare mūrdhni siṃhavad vinadan muhuḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Bhīṣma, yang diliputi amarah yang amat dahsyat, memukul Arjuna di medan perang dengan anak panahnya, menghentam kepalanya dengan paksa. Sesudah itu, berulang-ulang dia mengaum seperti singa. Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) pula melihat bahawa Pārtha (Arjuna) bertempur dengan lembut—menaruh belas terhadap sang Pitāmaha—sedangkan Bhīṣma berdiri di tengah bala tentera, tanpa henti mencurahkan hujan panah, menyala seperti matahari tengah hari, membunuh para pahlawan pilihan pihak Pāṇḍava dan menimbulkan pemandangan seakan pralaya dalam pasukan Yudhiṣṭhira.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how, in a dharma-yuddha setting, personal affection and reverence—though virtuous in ordinary life—can become a dangerous softness if they obstruct one’s rightful duty. Bhīṣma’s unwavering martial resolve contrasts with Arjuna’s hesitation, pressing the ethical point that duty must be performed with steadiness when the situation demands it.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma, fighting fiercely, showers Arjuna with arrows and even strikes his head. After landing these blows, Bhīṣma repeatedly roars like a lion, signaling dominance and intensifying the terror and momentum of the battle.