Shloka 70
खडगं चान्यतरप्रेप्सु्मुत्योरग्रे जयाय वा । भरतनन्दन! समस्त कौरव वीरोंके देखते-देखते गंगानन्दन भीष्मने मृत्यु अथवा विजय इन दोमेंसे किसी एकका वरण करनेके लिये अपने हाथमें सुवर्णभूषित ढाल और तलवार ले ली || ६९ ह || तस्य तच्छतथा चर्म व्यधमत् सायकैस्तथा
khaḍgaṃ cānyataraprepsur mṛtyor agre jayāya vā | bharatanandana samasta-kaurava-vīrāṇāṃ dṛśyate-dṛśyate gaṅgānandano bhīṣmo mṛtyuṃ vā jayaṃ vā—anayoḥ anyataraṃ varaṇāya—svahaste suvarṇabhūṣitaṃ carma ca khaḍgaṃ ca jagrāha | tasya tac chvetatathā carma vyadhamat sāyakais tathā ||
Sañjaya nói: “Hỡi hậu duệ Bhārata, trước mắt toàn thể các dũng sĩ Kaurava, Bhīṣma—con của sông Gaṅgā—tự tay cầm lấy kiếm và khiên nạm vàng, như thể chọn một trong hai: cái chết nơi tiền tuyến hoặc chiến thắng. Rồi chính chiếc khiên ấy cũng bị mưa tên đánh dập.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma: steadfast resolve in righteous combat, where a warrior accepts the two legitimate outcomes—victory or death—without clinging to personal safety. Bhīṣma’s readiness to face either outcome models disciplined courage and duty-bound action.
Sañjaya describes Bhīṣma, in full view of the Kaurava heroes, taking up his gold-adorned shield and sword, prepared for either death at the front or victory. Immediately, his shield is assailed and battered by a shower of arrows, indicating the intensity of the engagement.