Shloka 33
भीमसेन-दुर्योधन-समागमः
Bhīmasena–Duryodhana Engagement at Sunset
स्थिरां युद्धे मतिं कृत्वा भीष्ममेवाभिदुद्रुवु: । भीष्मके द्वारा पीड़ित हुए पांचाल और सोमक युद्धका दृढ़ निश्चय लेकर भीष्मकी ही ओर दौड़े ।। धृष्टद्युम्नमुखा श्चापि पार्था: शान्तनवं रणे
sthirāṃ yuddhe matiṃ kṛtvā bhīṣmam evābhidudruvuḥ | bhīṣmakāṇāṃ pīḍitāḥ pāñcālāḥ somakāś ca yuddhasya dṛḍha-niścayaṃ kṛtvā bhīṣmasyaivābhimukhaṃ dudruvuḥ || dhṛṣṭadyumna-mukhāś cāpi pārthāḥ śāntanavaṃ raṇe ||
Sañjaya said: Having fixed their resolve in battle, they rushed straight at Bhīṣma. The Pāñcālas and Somakas—harassed and struck down by Bhīṣma’s forces—made a firm decision to fight and ran toward Bhīṣma himself. Led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the sons of Pṛthā too advanced against Śāntanu’s descendant in the fray. The moment frames a deliberate ethical choice in war: to confront the chief source of devastation directly, even at great risk, as an act of duty to protect one’s side and restore balance on the battlefield.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast resolve (sthirā mati) as a component of kṣatriya-dharma: when harm becomes overwhelming, leaders and warriors may choose to confront the principal threat directly. Ethically, it frames courage and responsibility—acting decisively to protect one’s forces and pursue a just strategic aim—rather than yielding to fear or confusion.
Under Sañjaya’s narration, the Pāñcālas and Somakas, pressured by Bhīṣma’s onslaught, decide firmly to fight and charge toward Bhīṣma. Dhṛṣṭadyumna leads, and the Pāṇḍavas also advance against Bhīṣma (Śāntanu’s descendant), marking a concentrated attempt to check the Kaurava commander’s dominance.