Shloka 28
भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्
Departure to Behold Bhīṣma
शरतल्पे शयानं तमादित्यं पतितं यथा । स ददर्श महाबाहुं भयाच्चागतसाध्वस:,शर-शय्यापर सोये हुए महाबाहु भीष्मजी वैसे ही दिखायी दे रहे थे, मानो सूर्यदेव आकाशसे पृथ्वीपर गिर पड़े हों। युधिष्ठिरने उसी अवस्थामें उनका दर्शन किया। उस समय वे भयसे काँप उठे थे
śaratālpe śayānaṃ tam ādityaṃ patitaṃ yathā | sa dadarśa mahābāhuṃ bhayāccāgatasādhvasaḥ ||
Dia melihat Bhīṣma yang berlengan perkasa, terbaring di atas hamparan anak panah, bagaikan matahari sendiri jatuh dari langit ke bumi. Yudhiṣṭhira menyaksikannya dalam keadaan demikian, lalu dikuasai rasa takut hingga menggigil.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral weight of war’s consequences: even the greatest, radiant like the Sun, can be brought low. Yudhiṣṭhira’s fear signals humility and the recognition that dharma must now be sought from the suffering elder, not celebrated through victory.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira approaches Bhīṣma, who lies on a bed of arrows awaiting his chosen time of death. Seeing Bhīṣma’s grievous condition—likened to the Sun fallen to earth—Yudhiṣṭhira is overcome with dread and trembling.