Shloka 21
इसी प्रकार शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्म जब हथियार डालकर अस्त्रहीन हो गये, उस अवस्थामें शिखण्डीको आगे करके गाण्डीवधारी धनंजयने उनका वध किया था
evaṃvidhe śāntanunandane bhīṣme yuddhāyudhāni nikṣipya astravihīne jāte tasmin avasthāyāṃ śikhaṇḍinaṃ puraskṛtya gāṇḍīvadhārī dhanañjayo 'sya vadham akarot.
Demikian juga, tatkala Bhīṣma, putera Śāntanu, meletakkan senjata lalu menjadi tidak bersenjata, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), pemegang Gāṇḍīva, dengan meletakkan Śikhaṇḍī di hadapan, telah menyebabkan beliau terbunuh.
कृप उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical strain in dharma-yuddha: victory may be pursued through permissible strategy, yet the act of striking an unarmed foe (even when justified by context and vows) remains morally charged, inviting reflection on duty, intention, and the tragic compromises of war.
Kṛpa recalls the earlier battlefield event: Bhīṣma, having laid down his weapons and become unarmed, was brought down when Arjuna shot while keeping Śikhaṇḍī in front—since Bhīṣma would not fight Śikhaṇḍī—thus enabling Bhīṣma’s fall.