Shloka 116
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
यमदण्डोपमां घोरां चिक्षेप परमाहवे । इस प्रकार अत्यन्त घायल होनेपर महाधनुर्धर भगदत्त अपने मुँहके दोनों कोने चाटने लगे। फिर उन्होंने उस महायुद्धमें कनक और वैदूर्य मणियोंसे विभूषित लोहेकी बनी हुई सुदृढ़ एवं यमदण्डके समान भयंकर शक्ति चलायी
yamadaṇḍopamāṃ ghorāṃ cikṣepa paramāhave | itthaṃ atyanta-ghāte sati mahādhanuḥdharaḥ bhagadattaḥ sva-mukhasya ubhayataḥ koṇau lelihaḥ | tataḥ sa tasmin mahāyuddhe kanaka-vaidūrya-maṇibhiḥ vibhūṣitāṃ loha-mayīṃ sudṛḍhāṃ ca yamadaṇḍa-samāṃ bhīṣaṇāṃ śaktiṃ mumoca |
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: Sa sukdulang sagupaan, inihagis niya ang isang sandatang kakila-kilabot, na wari’y tungkod ng parusa ni Yama. Bagaman sugatang-sugatan, ang dakilang mamamana na si Bhagadatta ay dinilaan ang dalawang sulok ng kanyang bibig—isang mabagsik na tanda na hindi pa humuhupa ang kanyang loob. Pagkaraan, sa malaking digmaang iyon, pinakawalan niya ang nakapanghihilakbot na sibat na śakti, hinubog sa bakal na ubod-tibay at pinalamutian ng ginto at mga batong vaidūrya, kasindak-sindak na gaya ng pamalo ni Yama.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the battlefield intensifies death-consciousness and moral peril: even when gravely wounded, a warrior may cling to wrath and pride, invoking imagery of Yama’s rod to show the nearness of death and the fearful consequences of violence.
Sañjaya describes Bhagadatta, badly injured yet unshaken, making a fierce gesture (licking the corners of his mouth) and then hurling an iron śakti-spear, richly ornamented with gold and vaidūrya gems, likened to Yama’s staff for its terror and lethality.