Shloka 3
Bhīṣma-nipāta-saṃvāda — Sañjaya’s Report of Bhīṣma’s Fall (भीष्मनिपातसंवादः)
तस्मिन् हते महाप्राज्ञे महेचासे महाबले । महासत्त्वे नरव्याप्रे किमु आसीन्मनस्तव,महाज्ञानी, महाधनुर्धर, महाबली और महान् धैर्यशाली नरश्रेष्ठ भीष्मजीके मारे जानेपर तुम्हारे मनकी कैसी अवस्था हुई?
tasmin hate mahāprājñe mahecāse mahābale | mahāsattve naravyāpre kim u āsīn manas tava ||
جب وہ نہایت دانا، عظیم کمان دار، نہایت طاقتور اور بے پناہ حوصلے والے نر-شیر بھیشم مارے گئے، تو تمہارے دل و دماغ پر کیا گزری؟
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical weight of war: even the fall of a supremely virtuous and capable elder like Bhīṣma shakes the inner world of observers. It points to the moral and psychological consequences of adharma-driven conflict, where victory is inseparable from grief and the collapse of revered supports.
After hearing of Bhīṣma’s being struck down, Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions (through Sañjaya’s report) what Sañjaya’s mental state was at that moment—highlighting Bhīṣma’s stature as wise, powerful, and heroic, and setting the emotional tone for the aftermath of his fall.