Shloka 11
Bhīṣma’s Stuti of Keśava and Counsel on Nara–Nārāyaṇa (भीष्म-स्तवः; नरनारायण-प्रसङ्गः)
यथा हि पूर्वेडहनि धर्मराज्ञा व्यूह: कृत: कौरवसत्तमेन । तथा न भूतो भुवि मानुषेषु न दृष्टपूर्वो न च संश्रुतश्च
sañjaya uvāca |
yathā hi pūrvedahani dharmarājñā vyūhaḥ kṛtaḥ kauravasattamena |
tathā na bhūto bhuvi mānuṣeṣu na dṛṣṭapūrvo na ca saṃśrutaś ca ||
bhūriśravāś ca śalyaś ca drauṇiḥ sāṃyamaniḥ śalaḥ |
nābhyavartanta saṃrabdhāḥ kārṣṇer bāhubalodayam ||
Sañjaya dijo: Tal como el día anterior el más excelso de los Kauravas dispuso una formación de batalla (vyūha) contra Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, así era también ésta. Entre los ejércitos humanos sobre la tierra, jamás había surgido una formación semejante: ni vista antes, ni siquiera oída en relato alguno. Bhūriśravā, Śalya, Drauṇi (Aśvatthāmā), Sāṃyamani (hijo de Somadatta) y Śala—aunque inflamados de furia—no pudieron contener el creciente poder de los brazos de Kārṣṇi (Abhimanyu).
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary strategy and personal valor can overturn expectations: even renowned warriors, though furious and determined, may fail to restrain a righteous side’s momentum. It also underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethical tension—martial skill and dharma are tested amid escalating, unprecedented warfare.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kauravas arranged a battle-formation comparable to the previous day’s array against Yudhiṣṭhira—so rare it was neither seen nor heard of before. Despite their anger, key Kaurava fighters (Bhūriśravā, Śalya, Aśvatthāmā, Sāṃyamani, Śala) cannot check Abhimanyu’s surging prowess.