Shloka 54
ततस्तस्य च तेषां च युद्धे देवासुरोपमे । किरीटी भीष्ममागच्छत् पुरस्कृत्य शिखण्डिनम्
tatas tasya ca teṣāṁ ca yuddhe devāsuropame | kirīṭī bhīṣmam āgacchat puraskṛtya śikhaṇḍinam ||
Then, as the battle between him and those warriors raged on—terrible like the legendary wars of gods and demons—Arjuna, the diadem-crowned, advanced toward Bhishma, placing Shikhandin in front. The scene underscores the grim ethics of war: strategy is shaped not only by strength but by vows, reputations, and the moral constraints warriors acknowledge even amid slaughter.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, action is constrained by dharma-like commitments and personal vows; strategy often exploits acknowledged ethical limits (here, Bhishma’s reluctance to fight Shikhandi), showing how moral reputation can shape outcomes as much as force.
Sanjaya describes the battle becoming as fierce as a gods-versus-demons war. At that moment Arjuna advances toward Bhishma, deliberately placing Shikhandi at the front, a tactical move aimed at neutralizing Bhishma’s resistance and enabling Arjuna to press the attack.