Shloka 108
Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
परिवार्य तु ते सर्वे गाज़ेयं तरसा रणे । त्रिभिस्त्रिभि: शरैघोरे भींष्ममानच्छुरोजसा,उन सब लोगोंने रणक्षेत्रमें गंगानन्दन भीष्मको वेगपूर्वक घेरकर तीन-तीन भयंकर बाणोंद्वारा उन्हें यथाशक्ति पीड़ा पहुँचायी
parivārya tu te sarve gāṅgeyaṁ tarasā raṇe | tribhis tribhiḥ śaraiḥ ghore bhīṣmam ānacchuḥ ojasā ||
सञ्जय उवाच—परिवार्य तु ते सर्वे गाङ्गेयं तरसा रणे । त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः शरैर्घोरैर्भीष्ममाच्छुरोजसा ॥
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the harsh reality of kṣatriya warfare: coordinated force is used to subdue even a revered elder like Bhīṣma. Ethically, it points to the tension between reverence for persons and the impersonal demands of battle-duty (kṣatriya-dharma).
Sañjaya reports that a group of warriors encircle Bhīṣma on the battlefield and shower him with dreadful arrows in sets of three, attempting to wound and weaken him through concentrated, vigorous attack.