Shloka 46
भीष्मभीमसमागमः — Bhīṣma–Bhīma Strategic Engagement and Counsel to the King
अर्जुनकी मार खाकर वे सब-के-सब शान्तनुनन्दन भीष्मकी शरणमें गये। उस समय अगाध विपत्तिसमुद्रमें डूबते हुए सैनिकोंके लिये भीष्म जहाज बन गये ।। आपतड्रिस्तु तैस्तत्र प्रभग्नं तावकं बलम् | संचुक्षुभे महाराज वातैरिव महार्णव:,महाराज! पाण्डवोंके आक्रमण करनेपर आपकी सेनाका व्यूह भंग हो गया। वह सेना प्रचण्ड वायुके वेगसे समुद्रकी भाँति विक्षुब्ध हो उठी
sañjaya uvāca | āpaddṛṣṭis tu tais tatra prabhagnaṁ tāvakaṁ balam | sañcukṣubhe mahārāja vātaireva mahārṇavaḥ ||
Sañjaya said: O King, struck by Arjuna, they all sought refuge with Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu. At that time, for the soldiers sinking in the unfathomable sea of calamity, Bhīṣma became a ship. And there, as disaster seized them, your army’s formation was shattered; under the Pāṇḍavas’ assault it churned in turmoil, like the great ocean whipped up by violent winds.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
In war and in life, when adversity strikes, cohesion and right judgment are tested first: a force lacking steadiness and clarity can collapse into confusion, just as the ocean becomes turbulent under strong winds. The verse highlights how crisis exposes the true strength of leadership and collective discipline.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Pāṇḍavas’ assault has broken the Kaurava battle-formation; the Kaurava troops are thrown into panic and disorder, compared to a storm-tossed ocean.