Shloka 90
स पपात महाबाहुर्वसुधामनुनादयन्
sa papāta mahābāhur vasudhām anunādayan | indradhvaja iva chinnaḥ pṛthivīṃ śabdayan mahābāhuḥ bhīṣmaḥ sampūrṇa-dhanurdharāṇāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ | sarvāṅgeṣu sarvataḥ śaraiḥ baddhaḥ, patann api bhūmiṃ na spṛśat |
Sañjaya berkata: Bhīṣma yang berlengan perkasa itu rebah, membuat bumi bergema—seperti panji Indra apabila ditebas jatuh. Walaupun beliau yang terunggul antara para mahir busur sepenuhnya, seluruh tubuhnya ditembusi anak panah dari segenap arah; maka ketika rebah pun, beliau tidak menyentuh tanah. Adegan itu menegaskan harga ngeri peperangan dan keteguhan asketik seorang pahlawan yang menanggung derita tanpa meninggalkan dharma, kewajipan yang dipilihnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the gravity of dharma in wartime: even the greatest warrior can be brought down, and yet steadfastness and endurance remain central virtues. It also points to the tragic consequences of conflict—heroism and suffering coexist, and victory is inseparable from loss.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma’s collapse in battle. Struck all over by arrows, he falls with a thunderous sound, compared to a cut-down banner of Indra; because arrows support his body, he does not physically touch the ground—anticipating the famous ‘bed of arrows’ episode.