Shloka 79
नीतानमन्यन्त जना दृष्ट्वा भीष्मस्य विक्रमम् । उस समय लोगोंने भीष्मका अद्भुत पराक्रम देखकर यह मान लिया कि युद्धके मैदानमें जितने योद्धा उपस्थित हैं, वे सब यमराजके लोकमें गये हुएके ही समान हैं || ७८ ह ।।
nītān amanyanta janā dṛṣṭvā bhīṣmasya vikramam | na kaścid enaṃ samare pratyudyāti mahārathaḥ |
Dijo Sañjaya: «Al contemplar la asombrosa proeza de Bhīṣma, los guerreros llegaron a creer que cuantos estaban en el campo de batalla eran como si ya hubiesen partido al reino de Yama. En verdad, ningún gran combatiente de carro se atrevía a avanzar contra él en lucha abierta—salvo Arjuna, el héroe hijo de Pāṇḍu, cuyo auriga era Śrī Kṛṣṇa y cuyo carro iba uncido a caballos blancos, y el poderoso Śikhaṇḍin, hijo del rey de Pāñcāla.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary power can overwhelm collective courage, yet dharma in war requires certain individuals to face danger despite fear. It also points to the ethical tension of battle: even the righteous may feel as if death is inevitable, but duty and strategy still demand action.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma’s onslaught is so formidable that the fighters feel as though they are already destined for Yama’s realm. Virtually no mahāratha dares to confront Bhīṣma directly, except Arjuna (with Kṛṣṇa as charioteer and white horses) and Śikhaṇḍin of Pāñcāla.