Shloka 16
भीष्मपतनविषये धृतराष्ट्रस्य प्रश्नाः | Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Questions on Bhīṣma’s Fall
तस्माद् भीष्मो रक्षितव्यो विशेषेणेति मे मति: । शिखण्डिनो वधे यत्ता: सर्वे तिष्ठन्तु मामका:,“इसलिये मेरा विचार है कि इस समय हमें विशेष रूपसे भीष्मजीकी रक्षामें ही तत्पर रहना चाहिये। मेरे सारे सैनिक शिखण्डीको मार डालनेका प्रयत्न करें
tasmād bhīṣmo rakṣitavyo viśeṣeṇeti me matiḥ | śikhaṇḍino vadhe yattāḥ sarve tiṣṭhantu māmakāḥ ||
Sanjaya said: “Therefore, it is my considered judgment that Bhishma must be protected with special care at this moment. Let all our men stand ready, intent on the slaying of Shikhandin.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights wartime prudence: safeguarding a pivotal leader is treated as a moral and strategic necessity, while identifying and neutralizing the specific factor that threatens him (Shikhandin) becomes the army’s focused duty.
Sanjaya reports a tactical conclusion for the Kauravas: Bhishma, as the key commander, must be specially protected, and all Kaurava fighters should concentrate their effort on killing Shikhandin, whose presence is understood to endanger Bhishma.