Adhyāya 104 — Śikhaṇḍin-puraskāraḥ (Śikhaṇḍin as Vanguard) and Bhīṣma’s Counter-Advance
महेन्द्रप्रतिमं कार्ष्णि छादयामास पत्रिभि: । महाराज! तब अमर्षशील अलम्बुषने कुपित होकर देवराज इन्द्रके समान पराक्रमी अर्जुनकुमारको पंखवाले बाणोंसे आच्छादित कर दिया
mahendrapratimaṃ kārṣṇi chādayāmāsa patribhiḥ | mahārāja! tad amarṣaśīlaḥ alambuṣaṇaḥ kupitaḥ bhūtvā devarāja-indra-samāna-parākramaṃ arjuna-kumāraṃ pakṣavat-bāṇaiḥ ācchāditavān |
سنجے نے کہا—اے مہاراج! تب غصّے سے بھڑکا ہوا، تندخو اَلمبُش نے ارجن کے بیٹے کو—جو دیوراج اندر کے مانند پرَاکرمی تھا—پروں والے تیروں سے چاروں طرف ڈھانپ دیا۔
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights how anger (amarṣa, krodha) can drive a warrior to attempt domination through overwhelming force; ethically, it contrasts disciplined valor with rage-driven aggression, reminding that inner control is integral to righteous conduct even in war.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that Alambuṣaṇa, provoked and furious, unleashes a dense volley of feathered arrows, effectively ‘covering’ Arjuna’s son on the battlefield—an image of intense pressure and escalating combat.