Shloka 70
खडगं चान्यतरप्रेप्सु्मुत्योरग्रे जयाय वा । भरतनन्दन! समस्त कौरव वीरोंके देखते-देखते गंगानन्दन भीष्मने मृत्यु अथवा विजय इन दोमेंसे किसी एकका वरण करनेके लिये अपने हाथमें सुवर्णभूषित ढाल और तलवार ले ली || ६९ ह || तस्य तच्छतथा चर्म व्यधमत् सायकैस्तथा
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraprepsur mṛtyor agre jayāya vā | bharatanandana samasta-kaurava-vīrāṇāṃ dṛśyate-dṛśyate gaṅgānandano bhīṣmo mṛtyuṃ vā jayaṃ vā—anayoḥ anyataraṃ varaṇāya—svahaste suvarṇabhūṣitaṃ carma ca khaḍgaṃ ca jagrāha | tasya tac chvetatathā carma vyadhamat sāyakais tathā ||
Sañjaya disse: “Ó descendente de Bharata, diante dos olhos de todos os heróis kaurava, Bhīṣma, filho do Ganges, tomou em sua própria mão uma espada e um escudo adornado de ouro, como se escolhesse entre dois desfechos: a morte na vanguarda ou a vitória. Então o próprio escudo foi também atingido e amassado por flechas.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: steadfast resolve in righteous combat, where a warrior accepts the two legitimate outcomes—victory or death—without clinging to personal safety. Bhīṣma’s readiness to face either outcome models disciplined courage and duty-bound action.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma, in full view of the Kaurava heroes, taking up his gold-adorned shield and sword, prepared for either death at the front or victory. Immediately, his shield is assailed and battered by a shower of arrows, indicating the intensity of the engagement.