Shloka 26
Adhyāya 108 — Nimitta-darśana and Drona’s counsel amid Arjuna’s advance (निमित्तदर्शनं द्रोणोपदेशश्च)
छादित: पापडवै: शूरै: समन्ताद भरतर्षभ । “भरतश्रेष्ठ! ये शूरवीरोंका नाश करनेवाले महाधनुर्थर शौर्यसम्पन्न भीष्म पराक्रमी पाण्डवोंद्वारा चारों ओरसे घेर लिये गये हैं
sañjaya uvāca | chāditaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ śūraiḥ samantād bharatarṣabha | eṣa pāṇḍusuto jyeṣṭho yamābhyāṃ sahito raṇe tvaṃ hi saṃśrūyase 'tyartham asahyabalavikramaḥ | mahābāho! ye jyeṣṭhaḥ pāṇḍuputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ nakula-sahadevau ca sārdhaṃ kṛtvā raṇabhūmau yuṣmākaṃ paśyatāṃ mama senāṃ khādayanti (kṣādayanti) | prabho! mahābāho! yathā taṭaprāntaḥ samudraṃ nātivartayati, tathā tvam api yudhiṣṭhiram agrato nivāraya; tava hi balavikramaḥ atyantam asahya iti śrūyate ||
Sañjaya said: “O bull among the Bharatas, the mighty Pāṇḍava heroes have hemmed in Bhīṣma on every side—Bhīṣma, the great bowman, rich in valor, and a destroyer of warriors. Here is the eldest son of Pāṇḍu, Yudhiṣṭhira, advancing in battle together with the twin sons of Mādrī (Nakula and Sahadeva). Before your very eyes he is driving my forces back. O lord, strong-armed one—just as a shoreline holds back the sea from surging forward, so you too must check Yudhiṣṭhira’s advance; for your strength and prowess are heard to be utterly irresistible.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, leadership is framed as restraint and responsibility: the commander is urged to ‘hold back’ an advancing force, using power not merely to strike but to prevent collapse and protect one’s side—an application of kṣatriya-dharma and strategic self-control.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma is being surrounded by Pāṇḍava warriors, while Yudhiṣṭhira advances with Nakula and Sahadeva and drives back the Kaurava troops. Sañjaya urges a powerful ally/commander to stop Yudhiṣṭhira, comparing that restraint to a shoreline checking the sea.