Shloka 28
भीष्मदर्शनार्थं प्रस्थानम्
Departure to Behold Bhīṣma
शरतल्पे शयानं तमादित्यं पतितं यथा । स ददर्श महाबाहुं भयाच्चागतसाध्वस:
śaratālpe śayānaṃ tam ādityaṃ patitaṃ yathā | sa dadarśa mahābāhuṃ bhayāccāgatasādhvasaḥ ||
他看见那位臂力无双的毗湿摩卧在箭床之上，宛如太阳从天穹坠落大地。尤提士提罗见其如此，心生恐惧，战栗不已。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral weight of war’s consequences: even the greatest, radiant like the Sun, can be brought low. Yudhiṣṭhira’s fear signals humility and the recognition that dharma must now be sought from the suffering elder, not celebrated through victory.
In Śānti Parva, Yudhiṣṭhira approaches Bhīṣma, who lies on a bed of arrows awaiting his chosen time of death. Seeing Bhīṣma’s grievous condition—likened to the Sun fallen to earth—Yudhiṣṭhira is overcome with dread and trembling.