Shloka 28
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय ११०: पार्थभीमयोः प्रहारः तथा भीष्माभिमुखं संग्रामविस्तारः
Arjuna and Bhima’s pressure; escalation toward Bhishma
मां वा नियुड्धक्ष्व सौहार्दाद् योत्स्ये भीष्मेण पाण्डव | त्वत्प्रयुक्तो महाराज कि न कुर्या महाहवे
māṃ vā niyuddhakṣva sauhārdād yotsye bhīṣmeṇa pāṇḍava | tvatprayukto mahārāja kiṃ na kuryā mahāhave ||
Sañjaya said: “Out of affection, O son of Pāṇḍu, command me as well to fight. I will engage Bhīṣma in battle. Once set in motion by your order, O great king, what could I not do in this mighty war?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethic of loyal service and readiness to act under rightful command: when motivated by goodwill (sauhārda) and authorized by one’s leader, a person commits fully to the difficult duty of war, expressing resolve and accountability to command.
Sanjaya declares his willingness to be ordered into combat, even against the formidable Bhīṣma. He frames his readiness as arising from affection and as empowered by the king’s directive, using a rhetorical question to emphasize his determination in the great battle.