Shloka 40
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
।। स भीष्मं शरजालेन महता समवाकिरत्
sa bhīṣmaṁ śarajālena mahatā samavākirat | jighāṁsantaṁ yudhāṁ śreṣṭha tadā āsīt tumulaṁ mahat ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O Hari, binuhusan niya si Bhīṣma ng isang napakalaking lambat ng mga palaso. Nang si Bhīṣma—pinakamagaling sa mga mandirigma, may hangaring pumatay—ay salakayin nang gayon, sa sandaling iyon ay sumiklab ang isang dakila at magulong labanan. Ipinakikita ng tagpo ang mabagsik na dharma ng digmaan: kahit ang pinakamarangal na nakatatanda ay hinaharap ng walang-awang lakas kapag ang tungkulin at pag-iingat sa sariling panig ang nangingibabaw.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the grim reality of kṣatriya-duty in war: even the most revered elder (Bhishma) becomes a target when he is actively engaged in killing, and opponents respond with overwhelming force to protect their side and fulfill their martial obligations.
Sanjaya reports that Bhishma is being inundated by a massive volley—described as a ‘net of arrows’—and that this assault triggers (or coincides with) a fierce, chaotic surge in the fighting.