Shloka 30
अध्याय ८८ — घटोत्कच-दुर्योधनयुद्धवर्णनम्
Ghaṭotkaca–Duryodhana Engagement
तदस्त्रमस्त्रेण विदार्यमाणं खस्था: सुरा ददृशुः पार्थिवाश्व । भीष्मस्तु राजन् समरे महात्मा धनुश्न चित्रं ध्वजमेव चापि
tad astram astreṇa vidāryamāṇaṃ khasthāḥ surā dadṛśuḥ pārthivāśva | bhīṣmas tu rājan samare mahātmā dhanuś citraṃ dhvajam eva cāpi ||
三阇耶说道：立于空中的诸天看见那飞矢被反制之矢撕裂粉碎。然而毗湿摩，噢，大王——那位在鏖战中胸怀宏大的勇士——亦斩落了那奇妙之弓，甚至连旗幡也一并击断。由此可见，战场上的武勇不唯在以力对力，更在迅疾废其器、折其势，摧其权威之象征。
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kshatriya ethic of battlefield competence: force is met with appropriate counter-force (astra against astra), and victory is pursued by disabling the opponent’s capacity and morale (striking the bow and banner). It also frames war as an event witnessed and judged by higher powers, implying accountability beyond mere human spectators.
Sanjaya reports that a launched weapon is neutralized by a counter-weapon, a spectacle even the gods in the sky observe. In the same clash, Bhishma presses his advantage by damaging key martial emblems—specifically the opponent’s bow and banner—intensifying the momentum of the battle.