Shloka 54
Adhyāya 111 (Book 6): Daśama-dina-saṃgrāma—Bhīṣma’s Counsel to Yudhiṣṭhira and the Śikhaṇḍin-Led Advance
भीष्मजीका शिखण्डीसे युद्ध न करनेकी इच्छा प्रकट करना “महाबाहो! युद्धमें महाबली भीष्म तुम्हें पीड़ा नहीं दे सकते, इसलिये आज यत्नपूर्वक इनके ऊपर धावा करो ।।
sañjaya uvāca | mahābāho! yuddhe mahābalī bhīṣmaḥ tvāṃ pīḍāṃ na dāsyati, tasmād adya yatnapūrvakam etān prati dhāva | ahatvā samare bhīṣmam yadi yāsyasi māriṣa, avahāsyo ’sya lokasya bhaviṣyasi mayā saha |
Sañjaya dit : «Ô bras puissant ! Dans la bataille, Bhīṣma, si grand par sa force, ne pourra te nuire ; aussi, aujourd’hui, attaque-le avec un effort résolu. Si, cher ami, tu te retires du champ sans avoir abattu Bhīṣma, alors toi—avec moi—tu deviendras la risée de ce monde.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the warrior-code emphasis on resolve and honor in battle: retreating without accomplishing the crucial objective (bringing down Bhishma) is framed as a loss of reputation. It also shows how ethical constraints (Bhishma’s refusal to fight Shikhandi) become strategic leverage.
Sanjaya reports an exhortation urging a decisive assault on Bhishma, noting that Bhishma will not harm Shikhandi in combat. The speaker presses the addressee to advance and not return without Bhishma’s fall, warning that withdrawal would invite public ridicule.