Shloka 7
Adhyāya 78 — Bhīṣma’s Advance, Duryodhana’s Rally, and Concurrent Duels (भीष्मस्याभ्युद्यमः, दुर्योधनस्योत्साहवचनम्, विविधयुद्धवर्णनम्)
तुण्डमासीन्महाराज भीमसेनो महाबल: । सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्ष राक्षसक्ष घटोत्कच:
tuṇḍam āsīn mahārāja bhīmaseno mahābalaḥ | saubhadro draupadeyāś ca rākṣasaś ca ghaṭotkacaḥ ||
Sañjaya sprach: «O König, Bhīmasena von gewaltiger Kraft war wie ein ‘Stoßzahn’, die vorderste Schlagmacht. Bei ihm standen Saubhadra (Abhimanyu), die Söhne der Draupadī und der Rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that in a dharma-oriented conflict, strength is not merely personal prowess but a protective force aligned with one’s side and responsibilities—leaders and key warriors function as the ‘front’ that safeguards comrades and the cause.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra the prominent fighters present on the Pandava side in this context: Bhīma as a foremost battle-force, together with Abhimanyu, the sons of Draupadī, and the powerful rākṣasa-warrior Ghaṭotkaca.