Shloka 90
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! यह सब जानकर कुन्तीके सभी पुत्र कुरुकुलके वृद्ध पितामह महात्मा भीष्मको प्रणाम करके अपने शिविरकी ओर चले गये ।। तथोक्तवति गाड़ेये परलोकाय दीक्षिते । अर्जुनो दुःखसंतप्त: सत्रीडमिदमब्रवीत्,गंगानन्दन भीष्म परलोककी दीक्षा ले चुके थे। उन्होंने जब पूर्वोक्त बात बतायी, तब अर्जुन दुःखसे संतप्त एवं लज्जित होकर श्रीकृष्णसे इस प्रकार बोले--
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! etat sarvaṁ jñātvā kuntī-putrāḥ sarve kuru-kula-vṛddhaṁ pitāmahaṁ mahātmānaṁ bhīṣmaṁ praṇamya sva-śibiraṁ jagmuḥ. tathokte gāṅgeye paralokāya dīkṣite, arjuno duḥkha-santaptaḥ sa-trīḍam idaṁ abravīt—
Sañjaya disse: “Ó Rei! Tendo compreendido tudo isso, todos os filhos de Kuntī inclinaram-se diante do velho pitāmaha da linhagem Kuru, o magnânimo Bhīṣma, e então retornaram ao seu acampamento. Quando o filho do Ganges, Bhīṣma—já consagrado para a partida ao outro mundo—falou assim, Arjuna, consumido pela dor e tomado de vergonha, dirigiu estas palavras a Śrī Kṛṣṇa.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid war, dharma requires honoring elders and acknowledging moral weight. Arjuna’s grief and shame signal ethical self-scrutiny: victory and duty do not erase the sorrow of harming revered kin, and guidance must be sought from a higher moral compass (here, Krishna).
After hearing Bhishma’s words, the Pandavas respectfully bow to him and return to their camp. Bhishma is portrayed as spiritually prepared for death. Arjuna, overwhelmed by sorrow and embarrassment, turns to Krishna and begins to speak.