Shloka 196
भीष्मस्य अप्रतिमपराक्रमः — शिखण्डिपुरस्कृतः प्रहारः
Bhīṣma’s unmatched momentum and the assault with Śikhaṇḍin in the lead
भीष्मस्याभिमुखान् यातान् वारयामासुराहवे । राजन! इसी प्रकार आपके अन्य योद्धाओंने भीष्मके सम्मुख गये हुए पाण्डव महारथियोंको युद्धमें आगे बढ़नेसे रोक दिया
bhīṣmasyābhimukhān yātān vārayāmāsur āhave | rājan! (anyaiḥ yodhāḥ api) bhīṣmasya sammukhaṁ gatān pāṇḍava-mahārathīn yuddhe agre vardhanāt (pravṛttyā) nivārayām āsuḥ ||
Sañjaya dit : Au cœur de la bataille, ils arrêtèrent ceux qui avançaient droit vers Bhīṣma. Ô roi, de même, tes autres combattants retinrent aussi au combat les grands guerriers de char des Pāṇḍava qui s’étaient portés face à Bhīṣma, les empêchant de pousser plus avant.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights battlefield dharma as organized duty: protecting a key commander (Bhīṣma) and controlling the enemy’s advance through coordinated restraint, showing that war is fought not only by valor but by disciplined strategy and collective responsibility.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that when the Pāṇḍava elite warriors advanced to confront Bhīṣma directly, Kaurava fighters intervened and blocked them, preventing them from pushing forward toward Bhīṣma.