Shloka 27
भीष्मरक्षण-उद्योगः, शिखण्डि-विवर्जनं, सर्वतोभद्र-व्यूहः
Protection of Bhīṣma, Exemption of Śikhaṇḍin, and the Sarvatobhadra Array
प्रगृह्य विपुलं चाप॑ं ज्ञातिभि: परिवारित: । शूलमुद्गरहस्तैश्न नानाप्रहरणैरपि
pragṛhya vipulaṃ cāpaṃ jñātibhiḥ parivāritaḥ | śūlamudgarahastaiś ca nānāpraharaṇair api ||
Sañjaya sprach: Von allen Seiten von seinen Verwandten umringt—die einen mit Speeren und Keulen, die anderen mit mancherlei Waffen—hielt er einen gewaltigen Bogen empor.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between familial bonds and martial duty: in war, one may be physically and socially enclosed by one’s own people, yet compelled to act according to allegiance and kṣatriya-dharma.
Sañjaya describes a warrior holding a large bow while being surrounded by his relatives, who are armed with spears, maces, and other weapons—depicting a tightly formed, weapon-bearing encirclement in the battlefield setting.