Shloka 25
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
ततः स तूर्ण रुधिरोदफेनां कृत्वा नदीमाशु रणे रिपूणाम् । जगाम सौभद्रमतीत्य भीष्मो महारथं पार्थमदीनसत्त्व:,तदनन्तर उदार शक्तिशाली भीष्मने रणभूमिमें तुरंत ही शत्रुओंके रक्तरूपी जल एवं फेनसे भरी नदी बहाकर सुभद्राकुमार अभिमन्युको टालकर महारथी अर्जुनपर आक्रमण किया स प्रगृह्म महाघोरं निस्त्रिंशवरमायसम् । पदातिस्तूर्णमानर्च्छद् रथस्थं पुरुषर्षभ: तब पुरुषश्रेष्ठ शलपुत्र तुरंत ही एक अत्यन्त भयंकर लोहेकी बनी हुई बड़ी तलवार हाथमें ले पैदल ही रथपर बैठे हुए पांचालराजकुमार धृष्टद्युम्मनकी ओर चला
tataḥ sa tūrṇaṃ rudhirodaphenāṃ kṛtvā nadīm āśu raṇe ripūṇām | jagāma saubhadram atītya bhīṣmo mahārathaṃ pārtham adīnasattvaḥ || sa pragṛhya mahāghoraṃ nistriṃśavaram āyasam | padātis tūrṇam ānarcched rathasthaṃ puruṣarṣabhaḥ ||
Disse Sañjaya: Então Bhīṣma, veloz e de ânimo incansável, fez do sangue inimigo—espumante na batalha—um rio que logo corria, e, passando além de Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), avançou para enfrentar o grande guerreiro de carro Pārtha (Arjuna). Empunhando uma espada de ferro, terrível e excelente, aquele touro entre os homens arremeteu a pé contra o guerreiro postado num carro.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethos of steadfast courage and decisive action in war, while also underscoring the Mahābhārata’s ethical tension: heroic duty is pursued amid terrifying, dehumanizing violence (the ‘river of blood’), inviting reflection on the cost of righteous conflict.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma’s rapid advance: he cuts through enemies so fiercely that the battlefield is likened to a foaming river of blood. He bypasses Abhimanyu and moves to engage Arjuna, taking up a dreadful iron sword and rushing toward a chariot-borne opponent.