Shloka 2
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
ततो युधिष्छिरो राजा संध्यां संदृश्य भारत । वध्यमानं च भीष्मेण त्यक्तास्त्र भयविह्धलम्
tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā sandhyāṃ sandṛśya bhārata | vadhyamānaṃ ca bhīṣmeṇa tyaktāstra-bhaya-vihvalam ||
Sañjaya said: Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, seeing that evening had come, O Bhārata, and seeing the army being cut down by Bhīṣma—its weapons cast aside and its men shaken with fear—understood that the day’s fighting had broken their resolve and that withdrawal from battle was the prudent course.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights responsible kingship in war: a leader must read time and morale, and when troops are panic-stricken and disordered, restraint and withdrawal can be the dharmic, strategic choice rather than forcing further slaughter.
As evening falls, Yudhiṣṭhira observes that Bhīṣma has inflicted heavy losses and that the army has dropped its weapons in fear. Recognizing the collapse of fighting spirit and the onset of twilight, he concludes that continuing the engagement is unwise.