Mahabharata — Bhishma Parva, Shloka 23
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ६६: तुमुलसंग्रामवर्णनम्
The Tumult of Battle Described
प्रदारयन्तं सैन्यानि बलेनामितविक्रमम् । ग्रसमानमनीकानि व्यादितास्यमिवान्तकम्
sañjaya uvāca | pradārayantaṃ sainyāni balenāmitavikramam | grasamānam anīkāni vyāditāsyam ivāntakam |
三阇耶说：毗摩以不可抗拒之力、无量之勇，撕裂诸军。他宛如死神张口欲噬，将整队战阵当作猎物吞下。见那可怖的毗摩高举巨杵，毗湿摩立刻疾驰而至，前来迎战。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the terrifying momentum of war and the inevitability of death within it: even great warriors can appear as instruments of 'Antaka' (the End). Ethically, it highlights the Kshatriya arena where duty and destruction coexist, and where senior protectors like Bhishma must respond to unchecked force to uphold their side’s order and responsibility.
Sanjaya describes Bhima rampaging through the Kaurava forces, ripping apart troops and swallowing up formations metaphorically like Death with an open mouth. Seeing Bhima’s fearsome advance and his raised mace, Bhishma quickly comes to that spot to engage and restrain him.
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