Shloka 19
Droṇasya raudra-prayogaḥ
Droṇa’s intensified assault and the Pāṇḍava response
न भीष्मव्यसनं कश्रिद् दृष्टया कर्णममन्यत
na bhīṣmavyasanaṃ kaścid dṛṣṭvā karṇam amanyata
Sañjaya said: Seeing Karṇa, no one regarded Bhīṣma’s calamity as decisive—his fall did not seem to them the end of the Kaurava cause, for Karṇa’s presence revived their confidence in the war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how collective judgment in war is shaped by perceived leadership and capability: a severe loss (Bhīṣma’s downfall) may not be treated as final when a formidable figure (Karṇa) stands ready, showing the ethical and psychological dimension of confidence, dependence on champions, and the instability of worldly assessments.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that, after Bhīṣma’s misfortune, the Kaurava side did not view the setback as conclusive because they saw Karṇa—implying renewed hope and readiness to continue the battle under new martial strength.