Shloka 40
भीष्मस्य शरशय्या-प्राप्तिः
Bhīṣma’s Fall to the Arrow-Bed
धृष्टय्युम्नं तथा5<यान्तं भीष्मस्य वधकाड्क्षिणम् । हार्दिक्यो वारयामास रथश्रेष्ठं महारथ:,इसी प्रकार भीष्मके वधकी इच्छासे आते हुए रथियोंमें श्रेष्ठ धृष्टद्युम्नको महारथी कृतवर्माने रोक दिया
sañjaya uvāca |
dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tathāyāntaṃ bhīṣmasya vadhakāṅkṣiṇam |
hārdikyo vārayāmāsa rathaśreṣṭhaṃ mahārathaḥ ||
三阇耶说道：同样地，当车战之最的德里什塔丢姆那怀着诛杀毗湿摩之意推进时，大勇士克利多伐摩——号哈尔迪迦——上前拦阻，将其遏止。此景表明：在战争的道德重压之下，双方都把护持或除去这位关键长者视为决定性的职责；而勇武则体现为为本方大义而忠诚介入。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the wartime ethic of steadfast loyalty and timely intervention: a warrior’s prowess is shown not only in attack but also in preventing a decisive threat to one’s side. It also reflects the moral tension of targeting a revered elder like Bhīṣma, treated as a strategic and dharmic turning point by both armies.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna advances with the aim of killing Bhīṣma. Kṛtavarmā (Hārdikya), a leading Kaurava ally, blocks and restrains him, preventing Dhṛṣṭadyumna from reaching Bhīṣma at that moment.