Shloka 109
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
प्रत्यविध्यत तान् सर्वान् पिता देवव्रतस्तव । यतमानान् महेष्वासांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिद्यागैः
pratyavidhyata tān sarvān pitā devavratas tava | yatamānān maheṣvāsāṁs tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ ||
Sañjaya disse: Então Devavrata (Bhīṣma), para ti como uma figura paterna, revidou contra todos aqueles grandes arqueiros que se empenhavam na batalha, trespassando cada um com três flechas de voo reto — pagando o ataque deles com força medida e disciplinada.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined action in accordance with kṣatriya-duty: even in retaliation, Bhīṣma’s response is controlled and precise—an ethical ideal of measured force rather than uncontrolled rage.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), acting as the Kaurava commander, counters the attacking great archers by piercing each with three straight-flying arrows, thereby answering their effort on the battlefield.