Shloka 76
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
नाहं जेतुं रणे शक््य: सेन्द्रैरपि सुरासुरै: । आत्तशस्त्रो रणे यत्तो गृहीतवरकार्मुक:
nāhaṃ jetuṃ raṇe śakyaḥ sendrair api surāsuraiḥ | āttaśastro raṇe yatto gṛhītavarakārmukaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai putera Pāṇḍu yang berlengan perkasa, benarlah kata-katamu. Selagi aku berdiri dalam pertempuran dengan senjata di tangan—waspada, berusaha, dan memegang busurku yang unggul—bahkan para dewa dan asura bersama-sama, termasuk Indra, tidak dapat menewaskanku di medan perang.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the classical kṣatriya ideal of steadfast resolve: as long as a warrior remains armed, vigilant, and committed to the fight, he embodies near-unassailable martial power. Ethically, it underscores duty-bound firmness (dhṛti) and the seriousness of taking up arms—once engaged, one must not waver.
Bhīṣma addresses a Pāṇḍu prince (typically Arjuna in this context) and affirms the truth of what has been said about his own battlefield prowess. He declares that while he is fully armed and actively striving in combat with his great bow, even the combined forces of gods and asuras, including Indra, cannot defeat him.