Shloka 54
ततस्तस्य च तेषां च युद्धे देवासुरोपमे । किरीटी भीष्ममागच्छत् पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
tatas tasya ca teṣāṁ ca yuddhe devāsuropame | kirīṭī bhīṣmam āgacchat puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam ||
Kemudian, ketika pertempuran antara Bhīṣma dan para pahlawan itu berkobar—mengerikan seperti perang legenda antara dewa dan asura—Arjuna yang bermakota diadem mara mendekati Bhīṣma dengan meletakkan Śikhaṇḍin di hadapan. Adegan ini menegaskan etika perang yang kelam: strategi dibentuk bukan oleh kekuatan semata-mata, tetapi juga oleh sumpah, nama baik, dan batasan moral yang diakui para kesatria walau di tengah pembunuhan.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is constrained by dharma-like commitments and personal vows; strategy often exploits acknowledged ethical limits (here, Bhishma’s reluctance to fight Shikhandi), showing how moral reputation can shape outcomes as much as force.
Sanjaya describes the battle becoming as fierce as a gods-versus-demons war. At that moment Arjuna advances toward Bhishma, deliberately placing Shikhandi at the front, a tactical move aimed at neutralizing Bhishma’s resistance and enabling Arjuna to press the attack.