Shloka 916
गौरुडव्यूह-रचना तथा अर्धचन्द्र-प्रत्यव्यूह
Garuḍa Array and the Ardhacandra Counter-Formation
प्रहारविप्रमोक्षार्थ सहसा धरणीं गत: । प्रतापी भीष्म उसके वेगको अनिवार्य समझकर उस प्रहारसे बचनेके लिये सहसा पृथ्वीपर कूद पड़े
sañjaya uvāca | prahāra-vipramokṣārthaṃ sahasā dharaṇīṃ gataḥ | pratāpī bhīṣmaḥ tasya vegam anivāryaṃ jñātvā tasya prahārāt paritrāṇārthaṃ sahasā pṛthivyāṃ nipapāta |
Sañjaya nói: Để tránh đòn đánh, Bhīṣma dũng mãnh—biết rằng sức xông của cuộc công kích ấy không thể cưỡng—đột ngột hạ mình xuống đất, mong thoát khỏi cú giáng kia.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights practical wisdom within dharma-yuddha: valor is not mere stubbornness. Recognizing an unavoidable strike and taking swift evasive action can be ethically appropriate when it preserves one’s capacity to continue one’s duty in battle.
Sanjaya describes Bhishma perceiving the incoming attack as irresistible; to avoid being struck, he suddenly drops down to the ground, evading the blow through quick tactical movement.