Shloka 8
Bhīṣma’s Retrospective of the Jāmadagnya Rāma Encounter
Divyāstra-Pratiyuddha and Twilight Cessation
स मे भुजान्तरे राजन् निपत्य रुधिराशन: । मयैव सह राजेन्द्र जगाम वसुधातलम्,राजेन्द्र! वह रक्त पीनेवाला बाण मेरी दोनों भुजाओंके बीच (वक्ष:स्थलमें) चोट पहुँचाकर मुझे साथ लिये-दिये पृथ्वीपर जा गिरा
sa me bhujāntare rājan nipatya rudhirāśanaḥ | mayaiva saha rājendra jagāma vasudhātalam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai raja, anak panah yang seakan-akan peminum darah itu menembus di antara kedua lenganku (di dada), dan seolah-olah menyeretku bersamanya, ia menjatuhkanku ke permukaan bumi.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the harsh reality and moral weight of warfare: even a great warrior can be brought down instantly, reminding rulers to weigh dharma, restraint, and the human cost before embracing conflict.
Bhishma describes being struck in the chest (between the arms) by a ‘blood-drinking’ arrow, which then falls to the ground as though carrying him with it—an image emphasizing the force and fatal consequence of the blow.