Shloka 6
भीष्मपर्व — अध्याय 54: फल्गुन-प्रतिरोधः, सौबली-व्यूह-विध्वंसः, दुर्योधन-भीष्म-संवादः
एतं हि पुरुषव्याप्रं धनुष्मन्तं महाबलम् | दृष्टत्वा विप्रद्रुतं सैन्यं समरे मार्गणाहतम्
etaṃ hi puruṣavyāghraṃ dhanuṣmantaṃ mahābalam | dṛṣṭvā vipradrutaṃ sainyaṃ samare mārgaṇāhatam ||
Sanjaya said: Seeing Bhishma—lion among men, armed with his bow and possessed of great might—my entire host, struck by his arrows on the battlefield, breaks ranks and flees in panic.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key ethical and practical truth of warfare: morale is as decisive as weapons. A single warrior of extraordinary prowess can cause a collapse of courage and order, showing how leadership, reputation, and visible strength influence collective behavior in battle.
Sanjaya reports to Dhritarashtra that upon seeing Bhishma—bow in hand and immensely powerful—the Kaurava forces are struck by his arrows and begin to scatter and flee across the battlefield.