Shloka 109
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
प्रत्यविध्यत तान् सर्वान् पिता देवव्रतस्तव । यतमानान् महेष्वासांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिद्यागैः,उस समय आपके पितृतुल्य भीष्मने वहाँ युद्धके लिये प्रयत्न करनेवाले उन सभी महाधनुर्धर योद्धाओंको सीधे जानेवाले तीन-तीन बाणोंसे बींधकर बदला चुकाया
pratyavidhyata tān sarvān pitā devavratas tava | yatamānān maheṣvāsāṁs tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ ||
Sañjaya berkata: Lalu Devavrata (Bhīṣma), yang bagai bapa bagi tuanku, membalas serangan semua pemanah agung yang sedang berusaha dalam pertempuran itu, menikam setiap seorang dengan tiga anak panah yang meluncur lurus—membayar serangan mereka dengan kekuatan yang terukur dan berdisiplin.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action in accordance with kṣatriya-duty: even in retaliation, Bhīṣma’s response is controlled and precise—an ethical ideal of measured force rather than uncontrolled rage.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), acting as the Kaurava commander, counters the attacking great archers by piercing each with three straight-flying arrows, thereby answering their effort on the battlefield.