Daiva–Puruṣakāra Discourse and the Elephant-Corps Engagement (भीमगजानीक-सम्भ्रान्ति)
प्रत्यविध्यत तान् सर्वान् पिता देवव्रतस्तव । यतमानान् महेष्वासांस्त्रिभिस्त्रिभिरजिद्यागैः
pratyavidhyata tān sarvān pitā devavratas tava | yatamānān maheṣvāsāṁs tribhis tribhir ajihmagaiḥ ||
三阇耶说道:于是提婆弗罗多(毗湿摩),你所敬若父者,反击那些奋力作战的伟大弓手们,以三支直飞之箭分别贯穿每一人——以克制而严整的力量回报他们的攻势。
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined action in accordance with kṣatriya-duty: even in retaliation, Bhīṣma’s response is controlled and precise—an ethical ideal of measured force rather than uncontrolled rage.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma (Devavrata), acting as the Kaurava commander, counters the attacking great archers by piercing each with three straight-flying arrows, thereby answering their effort on the battlefield.