Shloka 77
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
शिरकश्रिच्छेद भल्लेन संक्रुद्धो लघुविक्रम: । राजन! यह देख गंगानन्दन भीष्मने क्रोधसे मूर्च्छिंत हो उस धनुषको फेंककर दूसरा अत्यन्त प्रबल एवं विशाल धनुष ले लिया और उसके ऊपर पत्थरपर रगड़कर तेज किये हुए सात विशाल भल्लोंका संधान किया। उनमेंसे चार भल्लोंके द्वारा उन्होंने सेनापति ब्ैतके चार घोड़ोंको मार डाला
sañjaya uvāca | śiraskaś chinnaṃ bhallena saṃkruddho laghuvikramaḥ | rājan, idaṃ dṛṣṭvā gaṅgānandano bhīṣmaḥ krodhena mūrcchita iva dhanuḥ kṣiptvā dvitīyaṃ atyanta-prabalaṃ viśālaṃ dhanuḥ jagrāha | tasmin aśmopale ghṛṣṭvā tīkṣṇīkṛtān sapta mahā-bhallān saṃdadhau | teṣāṃ caturbhiḥ senāpateḥ bāhlīkasya catvāro hayān jaghāna, dvābhyāṃ dhvajaṃ ciccheda, saptamena ca bhallena krodhāt sārather śiraś ciccheda | hātāśva-sūtāt sa rathād avaplutya mahābalaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “O Hari! Nang maputol ang ulo sa isang palasong malapad ang talim, si Bhīṣma—mabilis kumilos—ay nag-alab sa galit. Pagkakita nito, ang anak ng Ganga, na wari’y nahilo sa poot, itinapon ang kanyang busog, kumuha ng isa pang busog na lubhang malakas at napakalaki, at ikinabit ang pitong dambuhalang palasong malapad ang talim na pinatalas sa pagkikiskis sa bato. Sa apat dito, pinatay niya ang apat na kabayo ng pinunong si Bāhlika; sa dalawa, pinutol ang watawat; at sa ikapito, sa bilis na ipinamalas, galit niyang pinugot ang ulo ng tagapagmaneho. Pagkaraan, ang makapangyarihang mandirigma, nang mapatay ang mga kabayo at ang tagapagmaneho, ay lumundag mula sa karwahe.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how anger can intensify violence and accelerate destruction, even in a context where warriors act under kshatriya-duty. It implicitly contrasts disciplined prowess with wrath-driven escalation, reminding readers that ethical restraint remains relevant even amid righteous or obligatory conflict.
After a beheading by a bhalla arrow, Bhishma becomes enraged, switches to a stronger bow, and rapidly shoots seven sharpened broad-headed arrows: four kill Bahlika’s four horses, two cut the banner, and the seventh severs the charioteer’s head. With horses and charioteer dead, the warrior leaps down from the chariot.