Shloka 15
भीष्मरथाभिमुख्यं — Arjuna’s advance with Śikhaṇḍin; Duḥśāsana’s interception
महाराज! भीम, द्रौपदीके पाँचों पुत्र, पाँचों भाई केकयराजकुमार, सात्वतवंशी सात्यकि, युधिष्ठिर आदि पाण्डव-सैनिक तथा धृष्टद्युम्न आदि पांचाल-सैनिक द्रुपदकी रक्षाके लिये गंगानन्दन भीष्मपर टूट पड़े ।। तथैव तावका: सर्वे भीष्मरक्षार्थमुद्यता: । प्रत्युद्ययु: पाण्डुसेनां सहसैन्या नराधिप,नरेश्वर! इसी प्रकार आपके समस्त सैनिक भीष्मकी रक्षाके लिये सेनासहित उद्यत हो पाण्डव-सेनापर चढ़ आये
sañjaya uvāca |
mahārāja! bhīmaḥ, draupadyāḥ pañca putrāḥ, pañca bhrātaraḥ kaikeyarājakumārāḥ, sātvata-vaṃśī sātyakiḥ, yudhiṣṭhirādayaḥ pāṇḍava-sainikāḥ tathā dhṛṣṭadyumnādayaḥ pāñcāla-sainikāḥ drupadasya rakṣārthaṃ gaṅgā-nandanaṃ bhīṣmam prati tutruvuḥ ||
tathaiva tāvakāḥ sarve bhīṣma-rakṣārtham udyatāḥ |
pratyudyayuḥ pāṇḍu-senāṃ saha-sainyā nara-adhipa, nara-īśvara! ||
Sañjaya said: O King! Bhīma, the five sons of Draupadī, the five princely brothers of the Kekaya line, Sātyaki of the Sātvata clan, the Pāṇḍava troops led by Yudhiṣṭhira, and the Pāñcāla forces led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna—all, for the protection of Drupada, rushed upon Bhīṣma, the son of the Gaṅgā. Likewise, O lord of men, all your warriors, resolved to protect Bhīṣma, advanced with their armies and counter-charged against the Pāṇḍava host.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the kṣatriya ethic of protection and loyalty: each side rallies to defend its key elder/ally—Drupada for the Pāṇḍavas and Bhīṣma for the Kauravas—showing how duty and allegiance drive action even amid morally complex warfare.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that major Pāṇḍava-aligned warriors (Bhīma, Sātyaki, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the Upapāṇḍavas, Kekaya princes, and others) surge to protect Drupada by attacking Bhīṣma; in response, the Kaurava forces counter-advance to shield Bhīṣma and meet the Pāṇḍava army.