Shloka 21
Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance
ते वध्यमाना: समरे तावका भरतर्षभ | नाशवनुवन् वारयितुं पाण्डवानां महद् बलम्,भरतश्रेष्ठी] आपके सैनिक समरभूमिमें मारे जाने लगे। वे पाण्डवोंकी विशाल सेनाको रोक न सके
te vadhyamānāḥ samare tāvakā bharatarṣabha | nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahad balam ||
Sañjaya said: O bull among the Bharatas, as your warriors were being cut down on the battlefield, they proved unable to check the mighty force of the Pāṇḍavas.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the limits of mere military power: when a force is overwhelmed—by superior strategy, morale, leadership, and the perceived support of dharma—attempts to restrain it may fail. It also points to the ethical gravity of war, where inability to ‘check’ violence results in escalating destruction.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava soldiers are being slain in battle and cannot hold back the Pāṇḍavas’ great strength, indicating a turning of momentum on the battlefield against Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s side.