Shloka 3
भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः
Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead
एवमुक्तस्तु पार्थेन शिखण्डी भरतर्षभ | अभ्यद्रवत गाड़ियं श्र॒त्वा पार्थस्य भाषितम्,भरतश्रेष्ठी] जब अर्जुनने शिखण्डीसे ऐसा कहा, तब उसने पार्थके उस कथनको सुनकर गंगानन्दन भीष्मपर धावा किया
evam uktas tu pārthena śikhaṇḍī bharatarṣabha | abhyadravat gāṅgeyaṁ śrutvā pārthasya bhāṣitam ||
Sanjaya berkata: Wahai yang utama di antara keturunan Bharata, setelah mendengar kata-kata Partha (Arjuna), Shikhandin pun menyerbu lurus ke arah Bhishma, putera Sungai Gangga.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension of dharma in war: even revered elders like Bhīṣma may be confronted through carefully chosen means shaped by vows and past circumstances. It shows how intention, role, and consequence intertwine—Arjuna’s instruction becomes the catalyst for Śikhaṇḍī’s decisive action.
After Arjuna speaks to Śikhaṇḍī, Śikhaṇḍī hears and immediately rushes to attack Bhīṣma (called Gāṅgeya, son of Gaṅgā). This marks the forward movement of the plan in which Śikhaṇḍī is positioned against Bhīṣma on the battlefield.