Shloka 79
नीतानमन्यन्त जना दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम् । उस समय लोगोंने भीष्मका अद्भुत पराक्रम देखकर यह मान लिया कि युद्धके मैदानमें जितने योद्धा उपस्थित हैं, वे सब यमराजके लोकमें गये हुएके ही समान हैं || ७८ ह ।।
nītān amanyanta janā dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam | na kaścid enaṃ samare pratyudyāti mahārathaḥ |
Sañjaya said: Seeing Bhīṣma’s astonishing prowess, the warriors came to believe that all who stood upon the battlefield were as good as already gone to Yama’s realm. Indeed, no great chariot-fighter dared to advance against him in open combat—except Arjuna, the Pāṇḍava hero whose charioteer was Śrī Kṛṣṇa and whose car was yoked with white horses, and the mighty Śikhaṇḍin, son of the king of Pāñcāla.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary power can overwhelm collective courage, yet dharma in war requires certain individuals to face danger despite fear. It also points to the ethical tension of battle: even the righteous may feel as if death is inevitable, but duty and strategy still demand action.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma’s onslaught is so formidable that the fighters feel as though they are already destined for Yama’s realm. Virtually no mahāratha dares to confront Bhīṣma directly, except Arjuna (with Kṛṣṇa as charioteer and white horses) and Śikhaṇḍin of Pāñcāla.