Shloka 46
Vāsudeva-Māhātmya: Duryodhana’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Theological Account of Keśava
द्रवतश्न महीपालान् पश्य यौधिष्ठिरे बले । दृष्टवा हि भीष्म समरे व्यात्ताननमिवान्तकम्
dravataś ca mahīpālān paśya yudhiṣṭhire bale | dṛṣṭvā hi bhīṣmaṃ samare vyāttānanaṃ ivāntakam ||
Sañjaya dit : «Vois, ô Yudhiṣṭhira, les rois de ton armée fuient, saisis de panique ; car, voyant Bhīṣma au cœur de la mêlée—la bouche grande ouverte comme la Mort elle-même—ils perdent courage et se dispersent.»
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how the visible presence of overwhelming power can collapse morale: fear spreads quickly in war, and leaders must recognize that courage and steadiness are ethical and strategic necessities when dharma is tested under pressure.
Sañjaya reports to Yudhiṣṭhira that many kings in the Pāṇḍava host are fleeing upon seeing Bhīṣma raging in battle, compared to Antaka (Death) with a gaping mouth—an image emphasizing Bhīṣma’s terrifying, seemingly unstoppable force.