अथैनं पज्चविंशत्या क्षुद्रकाणां समार्पयत् । तब शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मने अर्जुनपर हाथ उठाना बंद कर दिया। फिर भी अर्जुनने उन्हें पचीस बाण मारे || ५४ है || सो&5तिविद्धो महेष्वासो दःशासनमभाषत
athainaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā kṣudrakāṇāṃ samārpayat |
Pagkaraan, tinamaan siya ni Arjuna ng dalawampu’t limang maliliit at matutuling palaso. Kahit si Bhīṣma, anak ni Śāntanu, ay pinigil ang nakataas na kamay—sinupil ang bugso ng pag-atake—hindi pa rin tumigil si Arjuna; lalo pa niyang dinikdik ang pagsalakay at sinugatan siya sa siksik na bugso ng mga palaso. Ipinakikita nito ang lupit ng dharma sa digmaan: maaaring sumibol ang pagpipigil sa isang mandirigma, ngunit ang kalabang nakatali sa tungkulin at tagumpay ay hindi humihinto.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights the tension between personal restraint and martial duty: even if a warrior like Bhīṣma restrains himself in a moment, the opponent—bound to his own obligation and strategy—continues the fight. Dharma in war is shown as complex, where compassion or hesitation does not automatically suspend the demands of combat.
Sañjaya reports that Arjuna shoots Bhīṣma with twenty-five light arrows in quick succession. The surrounding narrative context (as reflected in the provided passage) suggests Bhīṣma momentarily checks his raised hand, yet Arjuna continues to wound him, intensifying the battle pressure.