Shloka 68
जैसे प्रजजलित अग्नि वायुका सहारा पाकर घास-फूँसके जंगलमें विचरती है, इसी प्रकार दिव्यास्त्रोंका प्रयोग करते हुए भीष्मजी भी शत्रुसेनामें प्रज्वलित हो रहे थे ।।
sañjaya uvāca | yathā prajvalito 'gnir vāyunā sahāyaṃ prāpya tṛṇa-gulma-vaneṣu vicarati, evam divyāstrāṇi prayuñjāno bhīṣmo 'pi śatru-senāsu prajvalamāna iva babhūva | somakāṃś ca raṇe bhīṣmo jaghne pārtha-padānugān | nyavārayat tat sainyaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahārathaḥ ||
सञ्जय उवाच—यथा प्रज्वलितोऽग्निर्वायुसहायः तृणगुल्मलतावनेषु विचरति, तथैव दिव्यास्त्राणि प्रयुञ्जानोऽपि भीष्मः शत्रुसेनामध्ये प्रज्वलित इवाभवत्। रणे च सोमकान् पार्थपदानुगान् शरैर्जघान, स महारथः पाण्डवस्य सैन्यं च न्यवारयत्॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the terrifying momentum of martial power when supported by enabling conditions—like fire driven by wind—while also hinting at the ethical tension of war: even a righteous, disciplined warrior’s prowess can become all-consuming on the battlefield, demanding vigilance about how power is directed.
Sanjaya describes Bhishma’s onslaught: he appears like a wind-fed conflagration as he employs celestial weapons, strikes the Somakas aligned with Arjuna’s advance, and halts the forward movement of the Pandava forces.