Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
पुनश्चैनं शरैघोरिश्छादयामास भारत । निदाघान्ते महाराज यथा मेघो दिवाकरम्
sañjaya uvāca |
punaścainaṃ śaraiḥ ghoraḥ chādayāmāsa bhārata |
nidāghānte mahārāja yathā megho divākaram ||
ହେ ଭାରତ! ହେ ମହାରାଜ! ତାପରେ ସେ ପୁନର୍ବାର ଭୟଙ୍କର ଶରବର୍ଷାରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଆଚ୍ଛାଦିତ କଲା—ଯେପରି ନିଦାଘାନ୍ତେ ମେଘ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ଢାକିଦିଏ।
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights endurance under overwhelming pressure: in righteous warfare (kṣatriya-dharma), a warrior may be ‘eclipsed’ by adversity, yet the ethical demand is steadiness and continued resolve rather than collapse or panic.
Sañjaya reports that a fierce fighter again showers Sātyaki with terrible arrows, enveloping him—likened to a cloud covering the sun at the end of summer—signaling an intense phase of the battle where one combatant temporarily dominates.