Shloka 33
दिनानि दश भीष्मेण निघ्नता तावकं बलम्
dināni daśa bhīṣmeṇa nighnatā tāvakaṃ balam
قال سانجيا: عشرةَ أيامٍ، وبينما كان بهيشما يصرع رجالَنا، كانت جموعُ الكورو تُستأصل شيئًا فشيئًا—صورةٌ لكيف يمكن حتى لجيشٍ عظيم أن يُنقَض إذا سِيق إلى الأدهرما، وكُشِف أمام القوة التي لا تلين لواجبِ محاربٍ عظيمٍ موثوقٍ بقَسَمِه.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The line underscores the moral logic of the epic: power and numbers do not guarantee victory when a cause is ethically compromised; sustained violence, even when performed as a warrior’s duty, reveals the heavy cost of adharma and flawed leadership.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that for ten days Bhīṣma was actively fighting and killing on the battlefield, during which the Kaurava forces were being worn down—recalling the early phase of the Kurukṣetra war dominated by Bhīṣma’s command.