Shloka 17
Chapter 89: Bhīma dispatched to protect Ghaṭotkaca amid escalating engagements
स समन्तात् परिवृत: पिता देवव्रतस्तव । चिक्रीड धनुषा राजन् पातयानो महारथान्,राजन्! सब ओरसे घिरे हुए आपके ताऊ देवव्रत सब महारथियोंको धराशायी करते हुए अपने धनुषके द्वारा क्रीड़ा करने लगे
sa samantāt parivṛtaḥ pitā devavratas tava | cikrīḍa dhanuṣā rājan pātayāno mahārathān ||
రాజా! అన్ని వైపులా చుట్టుముట్టబడిన మీ పితృవ్యుడైన దేవవ్రతుడు (భీష్ముడు) ధనుస్సుతో క్రీడించునట్లు మహారథులను కూల్చసాగాడు.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary skill and status do not remove the ethical gravity of warfare: Bhīṣma, though a revered elder, acts according to his chosen duty and allegiance, and his ‘sport’ with the bow conveys both mastery and the tragic normalization of violence in battle.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), though surrounded by enemy fighters, dominates the field—using his bow to strike down many elite chariot-warriors, as if it were a display of effortless play.