Shloka 34
Chapter 51: Saṃdhyākāla-saṃhāra
Evening Withdrawal after Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
ततो भीमस्टत्रिभिविद्ध्वा भीष्मं शान्तनवं रणे | कृपमेकेन विव्याध कृतवर्माणमष्टभि:,तब भीमसेनने उस रणक्षेत्रमें शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मको तीन बाणोंसे घायल करके कृपाचार्यको एक और कृतवर्माको आठ बाणोंसे बेध दिया
tato bhīmas tatra tribhir viddhvā bhīṣmaṃ śāntanavaṃ raṇe | kṛpam ekena vivyādha kṛtavarmāṇam aṣṭabhiḥ ||
三阇耶说：随后，毗摩在那战场上以三箭射伤毗湿摩——善檀奴之子；又以一箭刺中克利波，以八箭贯穿克里塔跋摩。此报彰显战争无休止的精准：一旦执兵列阵，纵是受敬的长老与师长也被视作战士；衡量武勇的，是可控之力，而非仅凭怒火。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the battlefield ethic of kṣatriya-duty: once war is joined, even venerable figures like Bhishma and Kripa are engaged as armed opponents. Strength is shown through disciplined, proportionate action—targeted strikes rather than uncontrolled violence—within the grim framework of righteous warfare.
Sanjaya reports a specific exchange in the Kurukshetra war: Bhima shoots Bhishma with three arrows, then hits Kripa with one arrow, and Krtavarman with eight, marking Bhima’s aggressive advance against key Kaurava champions.