Shloka 19
भीष्म–रामसंयुगनिवृत्तिः
Bhishma and Rama: Restraint and Withdrawal in the Engagement
उक्त्वा भीष्मवधायेति प्रविवेश हुताशनम् । ज्येष्ठा काशिसुता राजन् यमुनामभितो नदीम्
uktvā bhīṣmavadhāyeti praviveśa hutāśanam | jyeṣṭhā kāśisutā rājan yamunām abhito nadīm ||
她宣告道：“此举为诛毗湿摩！”大王啊，迦尸国的长公主便在阎牟那河畔步入祭火之中。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the perilous power of a fixed vow: when duty is interpreted through the lens of revenge, it can eclipse compassion and self-preservation. It invites reflection on whether an end (retribution) can justify self-destructive means, and how personal agency operates within social codes and perceived destiny.
Bhīṣma recounts that the eldest princess of Kāśī, proclaiming her intent connected to Bhīṣma’s death, entered the fire by the Yamunā. This points to her intense resolve and sets the background for later consequences tied to Bhīṣma’s eventual fall.