Shloka 80
ऋते पाण्डुसुतं वीर श्वेताश्वं कृष्णसारथिम् । शिखण्डिनं च समरे पाज्चाल्यममितौजसम्,उस समय श्रीकृष्ण जिनके सारथि थे और श्वेत घोड़े जिनके रथमें जुते हुए थे, उन पाण्डुनन्दन वीर अर्जुनको तथा अमित तेजस्वी पांचालराजपुत्र शिखण्डीको छोड़कर दूसरा कोई महारथी ऐसा नहीं था, जो समरांगणमें भीष्मके सामने जानेका साहस करता
sañjaya uvāca |
ṛte pāṇḍusutaṃ vīra śvetāśvaṃ kṛṣṇasārathim |
śikhaṇḍinaṃ ca samare pāñcālyam amitaujasam ||
Sañjaya dit : «Hormis le vaillant fils de Pāṇḍu—Arjuna—dont le char était conduit par Kṛṣṇa et attelé de chevaux blancs, et hormis Śikhaṇḍin, le prince de Pāñcāla à la prouesse sans mesure, il n’y eut aucun autre grand guerrier de char qui osât s’avancer devant Bhīṣma sur le champ de bataille.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in war, outcomes are shaped not only by strength but by dharma-bound constraints and deliberate strategy: Bhīṣma’s near-invincibility is countered through the presence of Śikhaṇḍin (whom Bhīṣma will not fight) and Arjuna guided by Kṛṣṇa, showing how ethical vows and tactical insight determine who can confront overwhelming power.
Sañjaya reports that Bhīṣma’s dominance is so great that no warrior dares face him directly, except Arjuna—driven by Kṛṣṇa with white horses on his chariot—and Śikhaṇḍin, the powerful Pāñcāla prince, whose role is pivotal in enabling the confrontation with Bhīṣma.