Shloka 9
अध्याय ५५ — भीष्मस्य प्रचण्डविक्रमः, अर्जुनप्रत्युत्तरं, कृष्णस्य चक्रोद्यतिः
Chapter 55: Bhīṣma’s onslaught, Arjuna’s counter, and Kṛṣṇa’s raised discus
चित्रसेनेन सहिता: सहिता: पारिभद्रकै: । भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु सहसैन्यपुरस्कृता:
citrasenena sahitāḥ sahitāḥ pāribhadrakaiḥ | bhīṣmam evābhirakṣantu sahasainyapuraskṛtāḥ ||
Sañjaya said: “Let those troops—accompanied by Citrasena and joined by the Pāribhadra warriors—advance with their forces in front and devote themselves to guarding Bhīṣma alone.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid a vast conflict, dharma in practice often appears as disciplined responsibility: safeguarding the central leader (Bhīṣma) to preserve order, morale, and command structure, rather than scattering effort without focus.
Sañjaya reports a tactical directive: certain warriors, together with Citrasena and the Pāribhadras, should move with their troops positioned in front and concentrate on protecting Bhīṣma on the battlefield.